Eric Whitacre Animal Crackers 20th Century Contemporary Vocal Music Whitacre http://www.octavebox.com/classical-music-eras/modern/whitacre-animal-crackers/ Learn. Play. Dominate. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:47:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Eric Whitacre Animal Crackers 20th Century Contemporary Vocal Music Whitacre http://www.octavebox.com/classical-music-eras/modern/whitacre-animal-crackers/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Jason Sun, 31 May 2009 21:41:19 +0000 http://www.octavebox.com/?p=370#comment-15 There's a lot of pieces that are program music and will most likely not be preformed outside of that. A good example would be Schoenberg's "A Survivor from Warsaw" op.46. It's a great piece and accomplished what it was written to do. However, because of the nature piece and how "disturbing" it can be to some one will rarely see this piece preformed live. Unless it's an anniversary for Schoenberg's birth and/or death or a World War II themed program. "Cloud Burst" and "Ghost Train" will most likely not been heard outside of high school band competitions or large public events meant to "dazzle" the general unwashed public. Everything has its place. It was the next step in music, however short. There’s a lot of pieces that are program music and will most likely not be preformed outside of that. A good example would be Schoenberg’s “A Survivor from Warsaw” op.46. It’s a great piece and accomplished what it was written to do.

However, because of the nature piece and how “disturbing” it can be to some one will rarely see this piece preformed live. Unless it’s an anniversary for Schoenberg’s birth and/or death or a World War II themed program.

“Cloud Burst” and “Ghost Train” will most likely not been heard outside of high school band competitions or large public events meant to “dazzle” the general unwashed public.

Everything has its place. It was the next step in music, however short.

]]> Eric Whitacre Animal Crackers 20th Century Contemporary Vocal Music Whitacre http://www.octavebox.com/classical-music-eras/modern/whitacre-animal-crackers/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Ryan Fri, 29 May 2009 00:02:07 +0000 http://www.octavebox.com/?p=370#comment-13 The first I ever heard of Whitacre was "October," probably his most famous wind ensemble piece. I'm a wind doubler myself, but that piece was the first time I'd listened to a wind ensemble piece and didn't find myself saying, "Where are the strings?" Interesting texts by Ogden Nash. My first thought was Kipling, but I guess not. :P His music is very programmatic, but this brings me back to an old argument I had with a bunch of flautists over some Ian Clarke music: when does gimmicky program music (like Whitacre's use of snapping to create rain) become TOO gimmicky and lose integrity as a composition? Clarke is famous for flashy flute pieces, like "The Great Train Race." However, composers and flautists alike argue about whether or not the merit in his work is all just flash and flair. Speaking specifically about "The Great Train Race," all of us thought the piece was neat and sounded like...well, a great train race... But we all agreed that compositionally, it was pretty unsophisticated outside of trying to make a flute sound like a great train race. I know that's not directly related to Whitacre's music... I guess what I'm saying is your comments on "Cloud Burst" may be more off-putting for me than encouraging. Out of pure curiosity (and fairness to him), though, I think I'm gonna go hunt down some more Whitacre and check it out for myself. :) The first I ever heard of Whitacre was “October,” probably his most famous wind ensemble piece. I’m a wind doubler myself, but that piece was the first time I’d listened to a wind ensemble piece and didn’t find myself saying, “Where are the strings?”

Interesting texts by Ogden Nash. My first thought was Kipling, but I guess not. :P

His music is very programmatic, but this brings me back to an old argument I had with a bunch of flautists over some Ian Clarke music: when does gimmicky program music (like Whitacre’s use of snapping to create rain) become TOO gimmicky and lose integrity as a composition? Clarke is famous for flashy flute pieces, like “The Great Train Race.” However, composers and flautists alike argue about whether or not the merit in his work is all just flash and flair. Speaking specifically about “The Great Train Race,” all of us thought the piece was neat and sounded like…well, a great train race… But we all agreed that compositionally, it was pretty unsophisticated outside of trying to make a flute sound like a great train race.

I know that’s not directly related to Whitacre’s music… I guess what I’m saying is your comments on “Cloud Burst” may be more off-putting for me than encouraging. Out of pure curiosity (and fairness to him), though, I think I’m gonna go hunt down some more Whitacre and check it out for myself. :)

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