Geographical Fugue

Mat · Dec-23-2009, 18:05

I came across this piece a few days ago. I liked it very much and I thought you might like it as well.
It was composed by Ernst Toch and performed first in 1930 as a third movement of his suite - Gesprochene Musik.

+ YouTube Video

Enjoy!

wljmrbill · Dec-23-2009, 21:54

interesting and we thought rap was modern.. this was 1930 ish

marval · Dec-23-2009, 23:49

Thank you for that Mat, it was very interesting.

Margaret

Contratrombone64 · Mar-03-2010, 03:53

Sorry, but "what a load of horsepoo" was my first thougth, and I've struggled, I really have, to say something positive about this but it elludes me.

Soubasse · Mar-03-2010, 05:35

Hmm, can appreciate it in terms of it being a rhythmic, imitative take on the "Sprechsang" techniques (or however the hell one spells it), but it's really crying out to have notes put to the rhythms (it may have been easier to perform as well, you can hear them get out of sync a couple of times). If one was being really pedantic, it's not technically a fugue unless it's pitched so that you can do the successive entries of the subject in different keys (traditionally, tonic-dominant-tonic-dominant, etc). Granted, it's an interesting exercise in rhythmic delivery of text (thankfully without being rap which IS a load of horsesh*t!) but I'm not sure how successful it is.

J.H.C. · Mar-04-2010, 00:04

I found the rhythms very interesting so did one young girl on the left, really getting into it, I am going to suggest that our "All Blacks" adopt it as a pre game warm up instead of the Haka.

Contratrombone64 · Mar-04-2010, 01:55

(clutches sides rolling on the floor laughing) @ J.H.C

parthenon · Apr-23-2010, 03:22

Get a life, please, everybody. Toch's Geographical Fugue is a fun piece, not exactly a novelty but a rhythmic fugue. (No, a fugue needn't be pitched to be a fugue: fugue is a texture, a design, not a form, and there is certainly nothing strict about Bach's fugues, for instance: every one of them is different.)

I have fond memories of performing the Geographical Fugue back in the -- let us say it was within the last quarter of the last century -- under Paul Maynard back at Copland School of Music. The piece builds to a frenzied climax and is exciting to perform and to witness.

Thanks Mat for posting it.

Contratrombone64 · Apr-23-2010, 03:58

I have a life, and one I'm quite fond of, your comment is risible in the extreme.

Mat · Apr-23-2010, 10:02

Glad you liked it, parthenon. I've performed it with a bunch of my friends some time ago, we did have fun rehearsing it.

And btw, welcome to the forum.

Mar-03-2010, 05:35	#5 (permalink)
Soubasse Captain of Water Music Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: It sure as hell ain't MY "lucky" country :( Posts: 463 Images: 1	Hmm, can appreciate it in terms of it being a rhythmic, imitative take on the "Sprechsang" techniques (or however the hell one spells it), but it's really crying out to have notes put to the rhythms (it may have been easier to perform as well, you can hear them get out of sync a couple of times). If one was being really pedantic, it's not technically a fugue unless it's pitched so that you can do the successive entries of the subject in different keys (traditionally, tonic-dominant-tonic-dominant, etc). Granted, it's an interesting exercise in rhythmic delivery of text (thankfully without being rap which IS a load of horsesht!) but I'm not sure how successful it is. __________________ Music is made to transform the states of the soul, for an hour or an instant* (J. Alain)

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Dec-23-2009, 21:54	#2 (permalink)
wljmrbill Commodore con Forza Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Taylors, South Carolina, USA Posts: 939	interesting and we thought rap was modern.. this was 1930 ish

Dec-23-2009, 23:49	#3 (permalink)
marval Admiral Maestoso Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Posts: 6,305	Thank you for that Mat, it was very interesting. Margaret

Mar-03-2010, 03:53	#4 (permalink)
Contratrombone64 Vice Admiral Virtuoso Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,340 Images: 1	Sorry, but "what a load of horsepoo" was my first thougth, and I've struggled, I really have, to say something positive about this but it elludes me.

Mar-04-2010, 00:04	#6 (permalink)
J.H.C. Commodore con Forza Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nu Zeln Posts: 602	I found the rhythms very interesting so did one young girl on the left, really getting into it, I am going to suggest that our "All Blacks" adopt it as a pre game warm up instead of the Haka.

Mar-04-2010, 01:55	#7 (permalink)
Contratrombone64 Vice Admiral Virtuoso Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,340 Images: 1	(clutches sides rolling on the floor laughing) @ J.H.C

Apr-23-2010, 03:22	#8 (permalink)
parthenon Recruit, Pianissimo Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Greece Posts: 1	Get a life, please, everybody. Toch's Geographical Fugue is a fun piece, not exactly a novelty but a rhythmic fugue. (No, a fugue needn't be pitched to be a fugue: fugue is a texture, a design, not a form, and there is certainly nothing strict about Bach's fugues, for instance: every one of them is different.) I have fond memories of performing the Geographical Fugue back in the -- let us say it was within the last quarter of the last century -- under Paul Maynard back at Copland School of Music. The piece builds to a frenzied climax and is exciting to perform and to witness. Thanks Mat for posting it.

Apr-23-2010, 03:58	#9 (permalink)
Contratrombone64 Vice Admiral Virtuoso Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,340 Images: 1	I have a life, and one I'm quite fond of, your comment is risible in the extreme.

Apr-23-2010, 10:02	#10 (permalink)
Mat Rear Admiral Appassionata Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,945 Images: 5	Glad you liked it, parthenon. I've performed it with a bunch of my friends some time ago, we did have fun rehearsing it. And btw, welcome to the forum.