“Fertile betrayal”, or the role of the performer in the interpretation of a musical work 3106-PZ-KON
Canadian pianist Glenn Gould believed that the interpretation of the musical work is a “fertile betrayal”. The performer should, during the act of interpretation, “betray” the score, interpret it in his own way to fully extract the potential from the work. Each musical piece has huge interpreting potential. Despite the standardized method of notation, one work may sound in a completely different way, depending on the performer’s vision of it. Even the most faithful interpreter, trying to remain as true as possible to the letter of the score, is making many decisions that are making the performance individual. The aim of the classes is to show certain fragments of the classical works that are as different from each other as possible. The subject of considerations will be works generally known and popular, as well as little known ones. The program of the classes includes listening to the following works:
Kurt Atterberga: Symfony no. 6
Havergal Brian: Symphony no. 1 The Gothic
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no. 5
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 4
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony no. 9
Wojciech Kilar: Krzesany
Witold Lutosławski: Symphony no. 1
Gustav Mahler: Symphony no. 5
Claude Debussy: La mer
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Jean Sibelius: Symphony no. 1
Dmitry Shostakovich: Symphony no. 6
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
During classes the interpretations faithful to the score will be presented, as well as original and controversial creations. There will be both the oldest recordings from the beginning of the 20th century, as well as the latest recordings.
Type of course
Learning outcomes
The student has an extended knowledge about the interpretation possibilities hidden in the symphonic pieces discussed during the classes. He can indicate their most important recordings including the name of the conductor, orchestra and date of recording. He is able to provide features that distinguish them from other recordings. He demonstrates the skill of auditory analysis and is able to discuss performance in terms of basic parameters such as tempo, color or stylistic adequacy.
Assessment criteria
An auditory test including the works discussed during the classes.
Bibliography
Kenneth Eastaugh, Havergal Brian. The Making of a Composer
Constantin Floros, The Symphonies of Gustav Mahler
Entries in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: