Slapp happy was entirely unexpected, but fitting. To me, the mark of a great artist is effortlessly making more conventional works - like a Schönberg writing Gurrelieder or Joyce writing Dubliners, their experimentalism came from mastery of what came before, not mere noise-making.
I guess some of us, who have reached an age when we suddenly and unexpectedly are considered to be senior citizens by the younger part of the population, have a history of being hardcore progressive rock fans. I remember I loved and considered to be masterpieces albums like King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King, Yes: The Yes Album, Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Tarkus, Jethro Tull: Aqualung, Genesis: Selling England by the Pound, Gong: The Flying Teapot, Caravan: In the Land of Grey and Pink, to name only a few. These albums were recorded fifty years ago or more, and I have hardly listened to it at all the last thirty years. I still think this music was important and valuable: It had the ambition to let different influences come together and thereby create a new vision for what a rock musician can achieve. I will not in any way argue that this music belongs in the classical category, or that today pop and rock musicians have ambitions that are less valid or valuable. I am just saying that I feel that in those days rock music had an oulook of freedom, adventure and discovery that I kind of miss today. Probably I am just a silly old fool lost in nostalgic feelings. And of course Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven can rock too!
Henry Cow were an interesting band. They were merging with Slapp Happy at the time of the albums you mention, then everything splintered into bits, with several groups and composers emerging, including Fred Frith, Lindsay Cooper and John Greaves, The Art Bears, and then there were connections with two of the most interesting groups of that time, This Heat and Swans (who are still making occasionally great music).
The 3. concerto is very good; especially the last movement. The work reminds me of Schönberg, but the allegro giocoso is real fun; yes- the first movement is a tough nut to crack, but the concerto is worth a try, because even in his "atonal" works you can here, what a fine composer Skalkotta was. I recommend it to all listeners who like edgy, but gripping music.
Are you doing every disc in your library or just selections? I just realized you didn’t cover Ethel Smythe (not that I care, just curious if you don’t any/skipped)
Have you heard Art Bears, Dave? Personally, these days I have to just ignore the silly Marxism (or was it Maoism?) - but the music's held up for them. Before there was classical, there was King Crimson, Yes, Zappa and Genesis...
@@DavesClassicalGuide Sturm und drang, of course! Going to Berlin next week so looking forward to your upcoming Schumann detritus in your overflow room. I’m filled with spring lol
