Spine Tinglers: Dame Evelyn Glennie
Some time ago, Miss Mussel dreamed up a newsletter feature called Spine Tinglers, a sort of vignette space about those special moments in music that make all the hours of practicing and playing crap gigs for no money worthwhile. In order to fill that space, she wrote to some musicians and miracles of miracles, they answered.
It seems a shame to let their generously supplied responses waste away in the OM Inbox in hopes that someday Miss Mussel will get around to publishing this newsletter/albatross, so here is the first installment. Many thanks to Dame Evelyn Glennie for taking part.
I remember attending a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra of “The Rite of Spring” by Stravinsky at the Barbican in London back in the mid 80’s when I was a student. Coming from a remote part of North East Scotland with no experience of attending concerts by professional orchestras, this was an incredible experience that has remained with me ever since.
The intensity of the music and how it was performed totally transfixed my whole being to that moment. The extremes of dynamics, sound colour, the fragility and strength of the music, the daring message through sound and the fact that this piece pushed the boundaries of the players when it was first written (and a long time thereafter) are just a few of the reasons why this music has remained one of my all time favourites.
