Recent Pasts 20/21 Words Series - George Perle

MAGNUSSEN

It is a great privilege to be joined by composer George Perle and pianist Michael Boriskin.

I would first like to say a few introductory words about my guests, after which Dr. Perle will deliver a short paper.   Michael Boriskin and I will then follow up with questions and will also invite questions from the audience.

Michael Boriskin has performed in over 30 countries and has appeared in many of the world's foremost concert venues, including Lincoln Center's Great Performers series, Carnegie Hall, the BBC – the list is quite long here.   He played an important role at the New York Philharmonic's Completely Copland Festival in 1999, and his innovative broadcast series, CENTURYVIEW, was heard for three seasons on NPR.   His extensive discography ranges widely from Brahms and Tchaikovsky to the music of today, on BMG Conifer, Harmonia Mundi and many other labels.

George Perle was among the first Americans to become attracted in the 1930s to the post-tonal music of Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg. Over a period of almost 30 years, he discovered a twelve-tone modal system which he has described as “a personal solution to what everyone has recognized as the most problematical aspect of twelve-tone composition, its harmonic organization.”   In the summer of 1969, Paul Lansky made certain suggestions that led to an intensive period of collaboration which lasted until 1973.   The result was a radical expansion of the original theory which bears the name “twelve-tone tonality”, and is very basically an approach to composition which attempts to incorporate some facets of twelve-tone composition with some of the basic kinds of hierarchical distinctions found in tonal practice, such as the concept of a key as a primary point of reference.

Although Perle is above all a composer, the breadth of his musical interest has led to significant contributions in theory and musicology, as well.   He has published numerous articles in scholarly journals and seven books, including the award winning Operas of Alban Berg .   Andrew Porter, the music critic, has written, “Perle's renown as an analyst and scholar may have diverted some of the attention that should be given to his merits as a composer.   What matters to listeners is his achievement, the vividness of his melodic gestures, the lively rhythmic sense, the clarity and shapeliness of his discourse, and, quite simply, the charm and grace of his utterance.”

And now, please welcome Dr. Perle.