Day 299
Ferneyhough: String quartet no 3
Arditti String quartet
Ferneyhough’s music has the reputation of being some of the most complex and knotty music ever written. In particular his rhythms are quite extraordinary - the notation almost belies belief. Almost every bar has cross rhythms and mathematically intricate subdivisions. How on earth anybody can play this music is a mystery though there are plenty of groups who are willing to take on the challenge.
I can’t say that this is was easy to listen to - at times the very high loud violin writing grated on the ear. But there was still much that was fascinating in the score - his ear for sonorities is astonishing. I don’t suppose that I would ever willingly sit down and listen to the entire series of quartets but I am glad that I dipped my toes into this music.
No comments:
Post a Comment