The French connection

Article Abstract:

Francis Poulenc was perceptive and open-minded enough to recognize fellow composer Olivier Messiaen as an original, even though he must have known that the significant shift in French musical culture represented by Messiaen would not be to his own advantage. In contrast, Messiaen must have seen Poulenc as frivolous and rather a dilettante. Poulenc never gained the same stature as Messiaen, but it cannot be argued that he ceased to evolve after the second world war. Furthermore, his three large post-war sacred works and his opera 'Les Dialogues des Carmelites' anticipated Messiaen's later concerns.

Author: Northcott, Bayan
Messiaen, Olivier, Poulenc, Francis

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA


Gift to be simple

Article Abstract:

There has been little attention given to the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer and critic Virgil Thomson. His music and writing are often regarded as being rather light-hearted, but in fact he was a man of courage who had very forward-looking ideas about the direction music should take. He was extremely critical of a number of musicians, composers and musical forms, but his writing also showed original insight. He regarded himself mainly as a composer, and wrote a great deal of music.

Author: Northcott, Bayan
Music critics, Thomson, Virgil

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA


The last of the modern masters

Article Abstract:

Composer Elliott Carter has become well known for his unusual approach to music. He has always sought to portray the real characters of the various instruments, and believes that works should be allowed to evolve freely. His new work, the 20-minute String Quartet No.5, involves fragments of music which give the impression that the various performers are communicating about how the piece should best be performed.

Author: Northcott, Bayan
Carter, Elliott

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA


Subjects list: Influence, Composers
This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.