Friday, April 27, 2007

Vernacular Appeal of Melodic Simplicity and Harmonic Redundancy

I know the classical blogosphere will be seriously mourning Rostropovich. However, I personally am finding some redemptive light at the end of the tunnel over at Prof. Heebie McJeebie's Classical Pontifications. I nominate "Simpleton Pleasures" and "Jazz Improvisations" by Ariodney Hussington to be possibly the worst pieces of music ever written by anyone. But why, oh why, can I not stop listening to them???

A highlight (?) from Ms. Hussington's interview:

McJeebie: Why is the piece called Jazz Improvisations if there's no improvisation?

Hussington: There is improvisation, but it happens in the composer's head, and, actually, it already happened. It was in the past.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

i just saw you on the today show! congrats. ^^

Unknown said...

I really wanted to subtitle my forthcoming Philip Glass retrospective "The Vernacular Appeal of Melodic Simplicity and Harmonic Redundancy." I guess in order to avoid charges of plagiarism I'll have to go back to my original idea of "Good Music to Listen to Whilst Taking Drugs."

rednepentha said...

the simple pleasures sounds like a march for children. the jazz piece is better.

it was fun seeing you on the today show.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed hearing/seeing you at the bouncy little concert at the Met last night, so thanks.

Kappy said...

wow. both pieces are atrocious. REALLY bad. Although, not the worst I've ever heard, or played for that matter...oy.

laura said...

"So what you're hearing is a sort-of simultaneous compilation of all kinds of different improvisations that the composer was able to transcribe quickly."

I'm confused. Isn't that what we call composing? Not improvisation, which by definition is "a creation spoken or written or composed extemporaneously".
Anyone care to explain?

Jeremy Denk said...

Um, Laura, it's a satire ...

laura said...

*whoosh*
That one went right over my head.
Thanks, Jeremy. The only excuse I have is that it was late...?

Anonymous said...

Wonderful blog, Jeremy. This is hilarious! Brubeck and Kenton are two of my favorite 'African American Jazz' artists as well. Hussington's got some taste.

Anonymous said...

HI Jeremy,Its nice to seen you on today show! Jazz is my favorite music ever,invariable of composers i'll listen and enjoy the music which comes in tag of Jazz..
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