Proms on Four: 20th Century Classics - New Music at the Proms

Unlike other Proms shown on BBC4 this wasn't actually one proms; it focuses on new music which was played at different Proms but didn't get shown in the broadcast at the time.


Frieze - Mark-Anthony Turnage

This piece was actually performed by the NYO in the same concert as their performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; the linked being that Frieze takes its name from the Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt, which was itself inspired by Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

It reminded me lot of the Rite of Spring in its use of rhythm and harmony; the large percussion section is used throughout but it is given particular prominence at the beginning. At first I thought the piece was structured like a fantasia, a series of short musically ideas linked together, but in fact there is one main theme which returns a few times.

This main theme features a throbbing two stroke percussion passage, like a heart beat, and whirling strings and woodwind on top of a defiant brass melody. One time this theme returns with the brass melody played almost like a round, the second part only a few beats behind the first.

What I did like about the piece is how Turnage uses the registers of the different instruments to colour the music. He uses the higher instruments (violins, flutes and clarinets) to play shrill, rapid scalic passages requiring a lot of dexterity. He then immediately contrasts this with a legato flowing passage in the middle register featuring the violas, cor anglais and horns.


Turning Point - Colin Matthews

This work, about 20 minutes long, has 2 contrasting sections to it, such that the middle creates a turning point in the direction of the music (hence the title of the piece). As a whole, there is a very rich, full texture to the music with a lot going on, but it feels too busy at times and difficult to listen to and follow; your ear doesn't know which element of the music to focus in on.

There is a large percussion section which is required to play a remarkable array of instruments; at one point it appears that three of the players are striking scrap metal whilst the strings play long, sustained chords. There are also moment where the oboes and clarinets played with their bells in the air. Its hard to know if this was the performers choice or whether the composer instructed it, but it composers like Mahler have indicated this in the past.