Alas, another truly great musician has reached his 'final movement'. I refer, of course, to the late André Previn who has just died. He will remain a favourite of the GBP (the Great British Public) for his courage, and sense of fun, in agreeing to a guest appearance on the Morecambe and Wise Show. The sketch, in which he conducted the orchestra whilst Eric Morecambe 'played' Edvard Grieg's piano concerto must rank as one of the favourite comedy acts on British TV. If you turn to this report in The Telegraph they have a film of the occasion which you can watch.
For me, personally, he was an influence in guiding me towards theatre, in my case, amateur theatre. I can't remember when but under the influence of the late and very great Bernard Levin I decided to go and see a play that had just opened in London called 'EGBDF' or 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favour', a musical term appropriated by Tom Stoppard, then at the beginning of his dramatist career. This play was set minimaly on a stage which was mostly occupied by part of a classical orchestra. There were small spaces in and around the musicians in which the actors moved.
The play opens with just two actors who are, it turns out, prisoners in a Soviet psychiatric prison. One of them is a political prisoner, the other is nuts! The nutty one suddenly springs to his feet and begins to conduct - in utter silence because, of course, he can only hear the music in his head. A conversation of sorts ensues between the two prisoners and then gradually and softly the real musicians begin to play. As you will have guessed, the music, reminiscent of Shostakovich, was composed by André Previn.
I was stunned, captivated, entranced and deeply moved by the experience. Previn and Stoppard, between them, sent me on my theatrical journey for which I will forever be in their debt.
Previn was a giant. I once owned a number of his recordings of other composers on vinyl. Most are probably still moldering in the resale shop I gave them to. If you can enjoy Shostakovich or Previn's unmelodious compositions, your range is greater than mine.
Posted by: Bob | Friday, 01 March 2019 at 18:53
Shostakovich? Unmelodic? Try his 2nd Piano Concerto, Bob!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 01 March 2019 at 21:10
Sorry, David. While there are snatches of melody here and there it's still too post-romantic for me. There's very little of that sort of stuff that's appealing. Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and some of his piano pieces work somehow but, in general, similar works want for any recognizable motivation other than showing off proficiency in music theory.
Last night I listened to one of Previn's jazz albums with Ellis, Manne and Brown titled '4 To Go!'. If you like traditional jazz it doesn't get any better.
Posted by: Bob | Saturday, 02 March 2019 at 18:48
"snatches of melody here and there"? I worry about you, Bob!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 02 March 2019 at 20:09