bee
Group: Members
Posts: 1227
Joined: Jan. 2004 |
 |
Posted: Dec. 07 2011, 15:49 |
 |
I managed to go too and agree with all that simmo2005 & Tati have said.
To refer to Tubular Bells as the 'Bastard Offspring' of Minimalism was a little unkind of Mr Hazlewood...I felt there was no real affection for the music but it was played well, with a few bits that weren't quite true to the original. It would be impossible to keep it identical I guess.
I liked the fact it was being played in the same concert hall as when Mike did nearly 38 years ago for 2nd House. Last night he was conspicuous in his absence... I did have a secret wish that the surprise guest master of ceremonies would be Mike himself, but had to be content to see Paul McGann...who kind of vanished quite hastily after he'd done his bit..
I suppose my disappointment was that there seemed no 'love' of that very special piece of music by the musicians themselves...but if I think about it, no one loves it as much as us on here...and last night I loved it more than I ever have before just because it seemed so undervalued on stage. Excellent musicians though...and it's maybe unkind of me to say these things for I do not know if any of them feel strongly about the piece. It would be nice to hear from them on that, and put me right.
I am a fan of both Goldfrapp and Portishead and will continue now more so to follow what they are up too, just because of this performance.
I did enjoy the concert and can almost forgive the derisory comments about fans and the 'grubby' guitar chords made by Mr Hazelwood just because thanks to him the concert happened: it was so good to hear Tubular Bells live and share the experience with so many. Almost forgive. He acknowledged Mike's young age at the time of this being created but no one ever seems to fully give Mike credit for it's wonderful originality....there never was anything like it and there never will be again I suspect. He's a bit like Leonardo da Vinci...and I don't think I'm going too far with that one, unique genius, but at least Mike finishes things!
The Steve Reich Four Organs piece was amazing...playing that one chord...and fraying it! interesting idea...and is that guy still playing those maracas? He was almost mechanical.
The harp piece was beautiful, the sound took on a different presence and I did feel i was inside it somehow. It glittered.
The Terry Riley opening was very good too, and well worth a listen...but I was just so glad to hear what I went there for ( along with perhaps most of the audience ) the iconic Tubular Bells. I was very fortunate to go, and I took my 17 year old son and he's definitely broadening his musical taste. We both have an evening to remember there.
And the climbing inside the giant lava lamp idea was very appropriate, definitely!
Forgot to add, there were some great quotes on the programme sheet, with my favourite being 'Beethoven was wrong' by John Cage and Socrates ' The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.'
--------------
....second to the right and straight on till morning....
You heard me before
Yet you hear me again
Then I die
Till I call me again
|
