Ask classical-music buffs to choose a single favorite masterpiece and chances are that their selections will share a discomforting trait — all will be at least 100 years old. My pick, though, comes from the heart of the past century. It’s a work of internal perfection, startling elegance and vast philosophical import that opens as wide a window to eternity as any venerable favorite by Bach, Mozart or Beethoven.
The full impact of John Cage (1912-92) upon modern aesthetics has yet to be grasped, and he still has more detractors than fans. Yet even his most vehement critics must concede …
This is the begininng of a Wall Street Journal article. I’ve not read the rest because I don’t subscribe to WSJ.
Now my choice would not be John Cage, but it wouldn’t be Bach, Mozart or Beethoven either. (Not that I don’t love those composers, because I certainly do!) Nope. I’d go for Ravel, I think. Or Mahler. Or Sibelius. Granted, they aren’t totally recent works either, but they aren’t quite 100 years old. Yet.
But, in reality, I couldn’t choose one favorite work. It just doesn’t work that way for me. At least let me make a list of 10. Or 50. Or 100. Please.
Too Many Cooks?
Under the direction of conductor Christopher Johnston, the Symphony Orchestra premieres Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra, composed by eight Fairfax Academy for Communication and the Arts students.
Wow. Eight students compose one work? Wish they’d make me reeds instead.
