Composer in the world of today; Making the new out of the old

The composer in the world of today. The School of Music and the radio service of the University of Illinois invited you to listen to another program in the series. The composer in the world of today comment and illustrations on 20th century American music by an American composer. Conducting this series is Bernard Phillips Professor of Music at the University of Illinois and an internationally famed composer the composer in the world of today is produced and recorded by W I L L the University of Illinois radio service under a grant from the Educational Television and Radio Center in cooperation with the National Association of educational broadcasters. Today Mr. Phillips will discuss making the new out of the old. Now a composer in the world of today. And here is Bernard Philips. The importance in music of the elements which lead us to vicarious participation

with the composer is often overlooked. We respond one way when a soaring line is heard another way one slow muffled drum beats are sounding. It makes no difference what kind of music we might think of in this matter of eliciting a desired response from the listener. The skillful composer is the one who controls and manipulates his material with power and clarity. It is obvious that some kinds of music seem more persuasive than others in this regard. But all kinds must receive thoughtful consideration from the composer to be successful. Music that uses words will always seem to have half its battle won for itself because the Words are powerful AIDS in pointing the reaction of the listener in the direction the composer wishes. But music with words also is endangered more than abstract forms from the recurrence of cliches which have tended to cluster around given meanings and situations. Sweet music for love scenes. Busy music to indicate rapid movement portentous music for impending doom. All these we are familiar with.

As a matter of fact it might be said that the desire to get away from such things was one of the greatest motivating forces in the evolution of 20th century music. Consequently it is a little surprising that a contemporary composer would deliberately skirt the dangers of pointing up the obvious and a delight to find one who has succeeded brilliantly in avoiding pitfalls and creating a truly original work of art in the process. The music we will hear today is called leaves from the tale of Pinocchio written by the contemporary American composer Bernard Rodgers. It is music for a small orchestra with a narrator speaking lines that tell about certain selected adventures of the celebrated puppet. Mr. Rogers and setting this particular story in this particular way ran many risks one all too often found in movie background music is to take on an extremely phony naive tone because a story is one about and sometimes for children. Another is that words spoken against music more often than not

have a flat and banal sound by contrast with the music itself. Another is that there is always a temptation writing this kind of music to do musical illustration. What is slang only call Mickey Mouse sing when the mouse runs up the stairs the music runs up the scale and so on to all these dangers Mr. Rogers has been aware and has sought and found his own solutions which through the 12 short sections of the score never once descend to anything remotely near cliche. Mr. Rogers has written several operas one of which the warrior was performed at the Metropolitan Opera house some years ago. Hence he is a composer who knows the stage. He also has had a reputation of being one of the finest colorists writing in this country today. Color in his sense is far from impressionism or color for its own sake. Taking into account then his stage and dramatic experience and his ability to discover and project new sounds it is no wonder the setting upon Nokia is something different and completely fresh. There are some places particularly to notice

the idea of having an overture played by violins alone as one because it sets the scale and timing at the outset. The music for the Talking Cricket makes that very interesting little animal much more than a cricket. When the music of the marionette theatre comes it is refreshing not to have to listen to the awkward squeaks and creaking ZZ that most composers would think of the serpent with the smoking tale has music of such simplicity and effectiveness that one can say I wonder why nobody ever thought of that before. The moment when Pinocchio discovers the cat and the fox have stolen his money. Is music of such desolation as to be unworldly. When we hear the music for the fairy with her hair we are hearing typical Rogers mode all serene and very very simple and clear. One of the problems of using I'm a writer with music is when to put in the words. Mr. Rogers solves this by having the voice enter at all kinds of time sometimes during the full flight of the orchestra sometimes alone sometimes as a kind of bridge between movements. The sense or sense of the listener gets a

satisfactory formal design is a powerful one. It must be admitted that with the writing of this the composer has created a miniature but authentic masterpiece. Here is Bernard Rodgers leaves from the tale of Pinocchio performed by Howard Hanson and the Eastman Rochester orchestra with Marjorie Truelove Macao as narrator. OK. OK. The best. Way to. Would.

Thank you. Who knew. It happened long ago in the shop abode Mastro Antonio the cop into everyone called him asto Cherry because the tip of his nose was bright and shiny like a ripe red cherry. One day as he was at work M.O. Jerry found an old log award. I explained joyfully. Here is just the thing for this table leg and taking his hatchet he was about to pee on the box when he heard a tiny voice cried big.

Cherry. And held the log in both hand. You looked everywhere among the shavings. You know when the dog. Nothing. No I was mistaken. Is it time. For dinner. He began to see the small boy. At that moment he's good. What are you up to Jerry. I was making a table leg. This piece of wood frightened me. I heard the beaks range of Pepto. Is it possible. Do please let me have it. I had been wanting to make a man

may i had it. Take you. When you began to happen. And when I'm out. When the fingers will. Go down the grass. Is yellow with. The name. Of the old man. No. John. And. I had a. Great. Time. These are questions. As to Nokia how to. Do this.

Maybe. A little. Flute. Pursued by his unhappy father. You know he'll suddenly leap through the open window

and clatter through the streets. Catch him cried to panto while the crowd stared and cheered at finding a wooden marionette racing like the wind. Then the crowd joined the chase. A policeman hearing the noise came out. And as Pinocchio approached seized him by his long nose and handed him over to beto. But the marionette threw himself on the ground away with fusing to go home. The crowd pitying him persuaded the policeman to take Japan to prison gnocchi said quickly through the field until he reached his home. He locked the door and sat down thinking gleefully of his lucky escape. How clever I was to get away so easily.

In the quiet voice. Frightened me. It was the Talking Cricket in his room. He was warming you know disobedient boy. They will. Regret it. And said. I will not stay at home. And I will not. Want to be free. To eat. And sleep from morning to night. The next day Jupiter was released and returned home. He bought

Pinocchio A new spelling book and set him off to school as the Maginot walked along. He heard far off in the distance the sound of drums. Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom. And gradually he made out the voices of the night. Stop and consider should he go to. Follow the. Law. Decided tomorrow will be. The direction of the new. Position. Is made out. Of the night. Lamont. We're. Building to.

Stop. The shrill notes of the trumpet sounded a bowed signal. The flash bending to a head. In the crowd. And getting into. The magnets would just be getting comical but. The fact I was rightly 98. And was crowded with people who were not being kept in they could be made. Five of the actors go outside to Pinocchio and recognized him

after the performance. He was defiant as the manager but the actor was cool. He questioned Pinocchio who told him about his father and about the spending bill the kind hearted Maje gave him gold pieces to bring to Japan happened. The man set out for you you had hardly got a mile when he met a cat and a fall. The cat was black and the fox. These running companion always think of me as an actor he. Told Pinocchio. You.

Think you have only to go. The next morning. He would find the place find funny. Then the breeze that broke with the field of wonder they came to the end of the Red

Lobster where they rested for the night. Next morning I woke and looked for his companion but they had vanished and the man as he was seized and beaten by two bandits. The cat and the fox in disguise had lost his gait and after a long wandering found a tiny house where he was given rescue. We're good.

When Pinocchio had recovered the fairy told him that his father awaited him

and showed him the road to his home. The Nokia was started out but on the way he again encountered the fox and cat who both waited the foolish man in it to visit the field of Wanda. They passed through many places and at last came to a lonely meadow. It was stony and bad except for a few the trees. You know go down a hole Kathy and cavity o that. Now said the fox. Go over to that group and bring back a pail of water. And sprinkle it on the. Pond. Young Keogh had no paper but he too got to shoot more. I think they did on that mace with the dog.

That is all replied the ball. We can leave now. If you return to the breach. And. Have a. Go and. Then they patiently. Nothing had taken away the money you had buried. Once more how and then rose. Up and lay in his palm was greed.

I like him. The poor puppet fled in terror as he ran. He came again to the spot where the Pharaohs house stood. But now it was empty. And good gnocchi stood looking at it. He was

touched with a remote one he was weeping. A large pigeon flew overhead. He told Pinocchio that tobacco had been cast away upon the shore of an island while searching for his son. Come upon my back said the Pigeon. I will take you to him. The bird near the ground and when Pinocchio was. Away. You know. They were high af. With a. Rising blue. Line from Mt.. They fired to Petro on the shore.

The pigeons that Nokia likely on the way. The old man and his son embrace. Join me for a long time. They talked of their adventure. LOL The thing didn't happen and they were separate. Nope yo told me the barber. Had sold his new spending in order to go to the mat and had. All his meeting with. And get me in the gold pieces. Then you described the box. On the beach. And to. Long want.

To. Bang the to build a small boat and failed for their own. Note. Promised to be a worthy son. One day. He awoke. Discovered. To his jaw and. Cried. Out. To get it. I love the man and. Judy. As I was. Born. You have just heard making the new out of the old and other program in the series the composer in the

world of today conducting the series is Beryl Philips professor of music at the University of Illinois and an internationally famed composer. We cordially invite you to join us again next week at this same time for the next program in the series the composer in the world of today. The composer in the world of today was produced and recorded by Kenneth Cutler. Music supervisor of the radio service of the University of Illinois under a grant from the Educational Television and Radio Center. And it's being distributed by the National Association of educational broadcasters. This is the Radio Network.