concert review: Symphony Silicon Valley

[calimac]

Sometimes a concert program will contain a notation such as "First performed in Vienna, Dec. 22, 1808." (That was the monster concert where Beethoven introduced his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, among other works.) Wouldn't it be cool if the notation read "First performed in San Jose, California, September 29, 2007," and you were there?

Well, I was there. The work was Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie by David Amram, and I know what you're thinking: he's just going to orchestrate "This Land Is Your Land," run a few thuddy variations on it, and leave it at that. Not at all, not at all. It's a large suite of Americana through which the song, often mutated nearly to unrecognizability, recurs in unexpected forms.

This premiere was a big deal, and eleven Guthries were reported to have come out to the redwood forests to hear it. The local paper gave it a big preconcert writeup in the form of long puffy articles on Amram and Guthrie, so it was curious that the same writer gave the actual performance a short, dismissive review.

He may not have liked it much, but I certainly did.

It was my editors' idea, not mine, to on later references just call the song "This Land." When I see that, I think we should call it your grave. (No points for guessing the reference here. Ha ha, mine is an evil laugh.)

Comments

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

We saw Amram at Georgia Southern College (now University) in the very early 80s, and like him enough to buy an album of a concerted piece for his combo. It's nice to hear he's doing good stuff.

[rwl.livejournal.com]

Monster concert, indeed. Perhaps the greatest ever in the history of classical music. One other work that had its first public performance was Beethoven's Piano Concerto #4, which I think is one of the very best piano compositions ever written. That concert would be my #1 destination, once time travel is perfected.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

May I have an extra ticket?