The maestro cracks his whip
One of the world’s greatest composers lashes out at music teaching, the composers of today and the Norwegian Academy of Music’s Orchestra.
Krzysztof Penderecki shakes his head. He raises his baton once more, but halts again shortly after. The interruptions are continuous throughout the practice. More sound, more passion, more precision!
– We are on pins and needles, says Lars Bryngelsson, viola player and master’s student.
– The music is hard to play, and he is exceptionally demanding, considering that this is just a student orchestra.
The symphony orchestra consists of students from the Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) and the Barratt Due Institute of Music. Penderecki has been invited to conduct his own compositions at two concerts at NMH this weekend.
An active old man
The Pole is considered to be one of the greatest composers of our age, and was an important representative of avant-garde, experimental modernism in post-war Europe. Now 75 years old, he is still active when it comes to concerts and composing, but has had less contact with music students during recent years.
– I conduct approximately 70 concerts a year, and compose every day. Working with students is something I seldom do, maybe twice a year. However, I do think that it is important, and I would like to do more, Penderecki says.
– Where is the Stravinsky of today?
Penderecki emphasizes the importance of a good musical education, but also that there needs to be more music teaching available for children.
– Before, teaching music to young children was more usual. Now the offer is generally very poor, he says, and points out that this might be why there are no longer any «great» composers.
– When I was young, I met great men such as Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Messiaen. Composers of this caliber do not exist anymore. Where are the truly great composers today?
Popular through Kubrick
During the last thirty years, Penderecki has moved towards a more lyrical and traditional style, and has been described as «the apostate revolutionary avant-gardist ». This has led to Penderecki reaching a wider audience, but the revolutionary has also gained a place in popular culture, thanks to the inclusion of his works on several film scores, such as Stanley Kubrick’s «The Shining».
Despite the difficult music and tough discipline, the students at NMH appreciate the Polish maestro’s visit.
– Penderecki is a central figure in new musical history. It is not often you have a chance to play for someone like him. That Penderecki is visiting the Norwegian Academy of Music is without a doubt a huge event, concludes Lars Bryngelsson.
