4 April 2008¶ Friday: Rzewski's Pocket Symphony - C

I was sitting at my desk just now reading Thomas Harding’s 1565 A Confutation of a booke intituled an Apologie of the Church of England and listening to a contemporary classical piece, Frederic Rzewski’s “Pocket Symphony.” This is the first time I’ve listened to this piece. I suppose there should be some cognitive dissonance, but I had been listening t previously o some music for compline, and it was putting me to sleep. I needed something with a little more oomph to keep my sleep-deprived self focused on Harding’s smack-down of those pesky protestants.

In the middle of the third section (it’s called “C” on the eighth blackbird recording I have, I don’t know if that’s part of the original composition or just a recording thing. I am listening pleasantly, focusing on the reading, until the flute solo in the middle.

Oh. My.

The most intense flute I have ever heard. The flautist was gasping (intentionally? I think perhaps, but still the effect was startling) and the sound distorted (that was intentional, I’m sure). I jerked my head up from my reading and stared at the wall, involuntarily smiling. I got goosebumps.

I’m not recommending the piece1: I get the feeling it is part of a whole acquired thing, like Arvo Part. I hated Part ten years ago, but now I think he’s great. The point isn’t the music, but the experience. How often do I get the serendipity of something like this? Something that forces me to stop everything else and just listen (or watch, or feel, or whatever) is a treat.

I lead a charmed life. I spend my day reading or listening to music and thinking about things I want to think about. Even if what I want to think about is sixteenth century Catholic apologists.

——

1 Nor am I not-recommending — but section F includes what I think is a vacuum and a leaky faucet as part of the music. It’s classical Phish!

Comment

  1. I LOVE Part. And now I want to check out the panting flautist. There aren’t enough panting flautists in my life these days, if you know what I mean. (Not sure I do, but it sounded lewd.)

    — renaissance girl · Apr 6, 08:32 PM · #

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