Word: schonbergian
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Chamber Piece for four players by John Stewart is an examples of the quasi-Schonbergian writing which seems to spring eternal in student pieces like the waters of Lethe. The irrepressible antiquarianism of this style is characterized by self-conscious alternation of techniques, little rhythmic interest, and no intensity of construction. It fails to explore the subtler sound properties and combinations of the instruments, resulting in tedious, rhetorical pointillism. In this case the tedium nearly became punishment since the clarinet tone was coarse enough to make a serpent seem mellifluous. As with all the works, it was impossible to determine...
...lights and set were spartan -- they did the job, but with no flair. Larry Johnson's music turned out to be relatively inconspicuous. The first act featured an incongruously serious introduction and a marvelous, somewhat Schonbergian, dance for the finale. The second act music largely consisted of humorous distortions of traditional tunes. This approach jibed much better with the action and made the second act a little more unified than the first. But unity isn't the central issue, anyhow. The whole evening is a series of little episodes, more of an amusing revue than a play...
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