Orpheus, What did you think? Options

[mel2]

I wonder if anyone else heard this piece by Sir Anthony Hopkins on R3 this morning?

It was on at about 8.10a.m and I have to say I was underwhelmed. Not that I could do any better, but then I wouldn't have put it forward for publication either.

The presenter told us that Sir A.H was a skilled musician and composer; I don't know which instrument(s) he plays.

There was a good deal of percussiveness and swirling woodwind in the opening sequence and then it gave way to a choral part with orchestral harmony, and this was much better - a little suggestive of Holst, I thought, but then back came the percussion.

If the CBSO made it sound like a Junior school concert then I think it must be the arrangement at fault.

I wonder if I am being hyper-critical? Would this orchestra have performed and recorded the piece (now in the R3 charts!) if anyone less celebrated had composed it?

[Seer_Green]

I've heard this and was equally underwhelmed.

The trouble is, this is what appeals in the UK (certainly to publishers, performers, academics etc., not necessarily listeners), and that's not just the composer's 'name' (the fact that R3 played it is a good indication of this). For those of us who write accessible, tuneful music, this is why there is no interest in the UK. 99% of my royalties come from the US, but then again, out of 100 pieces 'in print', only 15 are published in the UK. In the US, they're not particularly interested in the 'name', and they're not bothered about music having to continually push boundaries. If I wrote (which I keep threatening to do) my concerto for empty wheelie bin, doormat and box of nails, it would be snapped up in no time in the UK!

This piece is a good example of being judged on the 'name', not on the music itself.

Sorry, rant over (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[katyjay]

<snip> If I wrote (which I keep threatening to do) my concerto for empty wheelie bin, doormat and box of nails, it would be snapped up in no time in the UK!<snip>

You've rescored it? I thought you were doing it for wheelie bin, upturned piano and drawing pin? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)