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General Discussion => The Buzz => Topic started by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 11:59

Title: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 11:59
Henryk Górecki, who died on November 12 aged 76, was a Polish composer who achieved immense popularity in Western Europe and America in the 1990s thanks to the ethereal splendour of his Symphony No 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs), which briefly reached No 6 in the British charts, just behind Paul McCartney.

:rip:
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Simon on November 14, 2010, 12:06
Can't say I've heard it, or of him, but  :rip:
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 12:19
You'd probably recognise the Dawn Upshaw vocal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMd6K4_ENY

also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miLV0o4AhE4
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Simon on November 14, 2010, 12:52
I'll check them out later.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 12:59
They are what I would term soul-tearing selections, very powerful music.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: GillE on November 14, 2010, 13:03
The popularity of his music played havoc with classical music radio stations.  Suddenly there was a piece of music everyone wanted to hear but which was copyrighted so the radio stations would have to pay the Performing Rights Society if they broadcast it.  It came as quite a shock - the works they had broadcast previously were all out of copyright.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 13:05
It was a very strong feature of the early days of Classic FM.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Simon on November 14, 2010, 14:17
I don't usually find music on it's own affects me emotionally.  Lyrics can, but not instrumental passages. 
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 16:11
Try these, see what happens.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: sam on November 14, 2010, 17:12
I'll take a look at him later too, the name doesn't ring a bell.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 17:20
If it doesn't squeeze the breath out of you, knowing what it's about, Sam, I'd be amazed. Watch the second clip first.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: sam on November 14, 2010, 17:37
will do, also found a torrent of symphony no 3
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 17:42
Go for the whole thing, then, Sam. Just be prepared to feel drained at the end of it. At least that's what it does to Sue and me, it's like being placed in the spectator gallery at Auschwitz.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Simon on November 14, 2010, 18:02
A joyous experience, then.  ::)
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 18:22
Certainly not that, but moving, yes.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: GillE on November 14, 2010, 18:42
So is syrup of figs, but I don't recommend a dose of that just to see what it's like.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 14, 2010, 18:54
 :laugh:

This is worth it as a piece of absolute musical experience, it has good moments, moments of hope, redemption and humanity, while centred on the inhumanity which was the Nazis. It's a bit like a requiem, yes, they are about death, but they are also full of hope and redemption for those who believe.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: sam on November 14, 2010, 21:45
well I've downloaded it, so will listen to it on the ipod on the way to work.. get the day of with a bang.
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Simon on November 14, 2010, 22:01
You'd probably recognise the Dawn Upshaw vocal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMd6K4_ENY

also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miLV0o4AhE4

It obviously has more of an impact coupled with the images, but the music didn't do anything for me - sorry!
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 15, 2010, 10:09
That's the wonderful thing about humanity, we all have different tastes. I bet you don't like pipe bands either. ;D
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Simon on November 15, 2010, 11:23
How did you guess?  ;D
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 15, 2010, 13:02
It's a common affliction amongst the English. ;)
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: GillE on November 15, 2010, 13:51
 :-X

 ;)
Title: Re: Henryk Górecki dead
Post by: Rik on November 15, 2010, 16:26
 ;D