Table of Contents
THE MORNING LIST
This week, here is a selection of recently published books where music has a prominent place: classical music influenced by Greek Antiquity; the jazz pianist and composer Martial Solal celebrated in drawings; Paul McCartney narrating his songs; the autobiography of a pioneer of hip-hop in France, Solo; a monograph dedicated to Brigitte Fontaine; a dive into Serge Gainsbourg’s nightclub; portraits of women artists by tattoo artist and illustrator La Rata; a musical, historical, social, intimate journey into Brazil, or rather the Brazils.
The imprint of ancient Greece in music, from Monteverdi to Britten
From the 17th century to the present day, Greek Antiquity has nourished the imagination of composers who have drawn from it the material for works destined to enter history through the mark of individual genius. The modus operandi of these creators « philhellenes” inspired Hélène Pierrakos to write an essay whose title is explained by a postulate formulated in metaphorical terms. “As if the knowledge of antiquity, engraved more and more deeply in marble by centuries of learned studies, had, despite everything, produced only a succession of bases of solid appearance but of friable essence on which poets and musicians could inscribe their flaw. » Associate “poets and musicians”suggests that opera will constitute the privileged genre of reflection.
In fact, the “journey” proposed by Hélène Pierrakos opens with Monteverdi (L’Orfeo, The Return of Ulysses to His Homeland), master of dance and trance, continues with Gluck (Orpheus and Eurydice, Iphigenia in Tauride) and Mozart (Idomeneus) before taking a long step into a 19th century where the words (Schiller, Goethe) and the notes (Schubert, Wolf) have the Germanic accents of the Lied. Based on prospective listening, the text does not neglect didactic details (opera “by numbers”, classicism, the Second School of Vienna). By Richard Strauss (Elektra) to Benjamin Britten (Death in Venice), the “Moderns” are the subject of a multipolar treatment. Seduced by the originality of the subject and by the luminescence of the writing, the reader becomes, over the pages, a sort of “Philhélène Pierrakos”. P. Gi.
“Faults in the marble”, by Hélène Pierrakos, Premières Loges editions, 130 p. €16. EDITIONS PREMIÈRES LOGES
A superb comic strip to tell the story of a jazz great
And “personal and subjective portrait”: in the first pages of Martial Solal, a life unexpectedly, this is how Vincent Sorel presented his project to the pianist, composer and conductor. Which is a superb comic strip in black, white and blue – that of the “blue note” of jazz –, sometimes in black, white and orange. We follow the journey of Martial Solal, his childhood in Algiers, where he was born in 1927, his apprenticeship as a pianist, his first engagements with the saxophonist Lucky Starway, his arrival in Paris at the beginning of 1950, the nights playing at Club Saint -Germain with passing American soloists, his first compositions, including the Suite in D flat for jazz quartet, music for cinema – that ofOut of breath, by Jean-Luc Godard –, the call from the United States, his return to France… And decades of artistic encounters, from a duo to a large orchestra, until his decision to no longer perform in concert after that, solo , triumphant, Salle Gaveau, in Paris on January 23, 2019.
## World Today News Interview: Music Across Disciplines
**Welcome, everyone, to World Today News. Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of music’s intersection with other disciplines. Joining us are two esteemed guests:**
* **Dr. Helena Petrov, an Associate Professor of Music History specializing in early modern opera.**
* **Mr. Daniel Rueben, an illustrator and comic book artist with a passion for jazz history.**
**Thank you both for being here.**
**Section I: Ancient Echoes in Modern Music**
*Dr. Petrov, your area of expertise lies in the influence of Ancient Greece on musical composition. Can you elaborate on how this millennia-old inspiration continues to resonate with composers today?
*Hélène Pierrakos’ book, “Faults in the Marble,” argues that Greek Antiquity has provided a framework for composers, but one that’s often interpreted through the lens of individuality. What are some examples of how composers have utilized these “frames” while simultaneously injecting their own unique perspectives?
*Do you think there’s a danger of relying too heavily on historical inspiration? How can composers avoid falling into clichés or mere imitation while still drawing from the richness of the past?
**Section II: Jazz, Comics, and the Power of Storytelling**
*Mr. Rueben, your comic book “Martial Solal: A Life Unexpectedly” offers a fresh and engaging way to explore the life of a legendary jazz musician. What drew you to this particular artist and medium?
*Comics are often associated with superhero tales and fantastical narratives. How does the graphic novel format lend itself to telling the story of a musician’s life and career?
*Music is inherently multi-sensory. How did you approach the challenge of translating
the abstract nature of sound and improvisation into a visual medium?
**Section III: The Intertwined World of Arts**
* Dr. Petrov, your research focuses on opera, a genre that inherently blends music, drama, and visual spectacle. How do you see the boundaries between different art forms blurring in contemporary artistic expressions?
* Mr. Rueben, in telling Solal’s story, you incorporated elements of his life, music, and the historical context of jazz. Can you speak to the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in enriching artistic narratives?
*Looking forward, what are some emerging trends or potential intersections between music and other art forms that you find particularly exciting or promising?
**Concluding Thoughts**
*What do you hope readers and viewers will take away from your respective works?
*What role can art, in its various forms, play in fostering understanding and connection
in our increasingly complex world?
**Thank you both for sharing your insights. This has been a truly enlightening discussion.**
