At Vasily Petrenkos’s fine performance of Britten’s War Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall, Dr. Paul Whittaker of the British Sign Language interpreted the piece for musicians and audience members with hearing difficulties.
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Paul is great – he recently interpreted our RLPO /RLPC Bach St.John Passion with Andrew Manze and features next season along with Kate Labno returning for Relaxed concerts – see here:
https://www.liverpoolphil.com/the-orchestra/orchestra-season-202223/bsl-interpreted-events/
Little point if you can’t hear the music.
How is polyphony signed?
Ridiculous.
I agree-I wonder if those heard anything at all!!
We had someone do the same job when I was conducting in Los Angeles. Brought theatre to the deaf and they loved every minute. Great thing to so.
Someone said to me, “What is this? Do they think deaf people are so thick they can’t read programme notes/texts/surtitles?” But blind people can’t read them, can they? So signers ALSO HELP THE BLIND. #virtue signalling #literally [#satire]
Is this the same Ben Britten, a Conscientuous Objector, who spent the first part of WW2 in the U.S. who then on his return to the U.K. refused to take part in active service?
If so, one is left wondering why he felt compelled to write a War Requiem for those of his generation that fell in action. I presume he took no fee for such a commission?
Have you listened to it?
My dearest Archie, if your question is directed to me my answer is below, if not I apologise and please ignore this response!
My post was not actually referring to the quality of the music but as to the ethics of a man writing a Requiem for his fallen generation when he refused to take part – how many people actually believe in War? Most people do not. That must surely be the case? Most of us DO NOT believe in War. However, if it were not ‘for the fallen’ of EVERY War, of which we all must have to thank from the depths of our hearts the men (mostly, at that time) who gave their lives for us and the likes of Britten to live our lives in future peace, where would we be? If two entire generations had decided to be Pacafists – what then?
And to make a general point, WW1 composers were prepared to serve…fight…die for their country (Elgar, RVW and Butterworth in that order) but by WW2 nearly EVERY British contemporary composer of that time got out of fighting be it by hook or crook – early snowflakes in comparison one may say.
As to the actual music and to answer your initial question regarding Britten’s War Requiem – yes I have heard it. I first played it under Hickox in St Paul’s Cathedral in 1994. As a student at the time I was unimpressed but willing to give it a go as should perhaps always be the case. Having had the misfortune of having to endure the work on and off for 20 odd years under many of the world’s leading conductors, I can safely say that I believe it not worthy of the men who gave their lives, especially as Britten could himself have been among the dead had he served like many men who disagreed with War, as most of us do, but served and gave their lives so that others could live theirs.
The greatest British Requiem that never appeared may well could have come from the pen of Butterworth, but he gave his life serving his country. Otherwise, the Spirit of England is, in my opinion, a piece of actual music that portrays in deep feeling the loss of a generation. It is music, REAL music…
As to Britten’s War Requiem, I last performed it at the RFH some 10 years ago and am glad to say it fell to my ears for the very last to time on this earth!
Next:War requiem for the blind.
next:Work requiem for the deaf AND blind.
next:War requiem for the transgenders….
I am literally stunned by the ignorance of some of these comments. Did it never occur to any of you geniuses that some of these deaf concertgoers might be spouses or friends of the musicians, coming to support their loved ones? Anyone who’s ever worked with the hard of hearing knows that they don’t want to spend the entire time looking down at their programs, bulletins, whatever. They want to be able to look up and see what’s going on, just like the rest of us. That’s why signers are used.
As far as Britten being a conscientious objector, he certainly doesn’t need to answer to any of you for his choice. He was put to work by the British government in lieu of military service, giving performances all over Britain and composing music for government films.
Please see above reply to Archie
“”” Did it never occur to any of you geniuses that some of these deaf concertgoers might be spouses or friends of the musicians, coming to support their loved ones”””
Yes it did and so what?Were the ones who supported them deaf or blind or both?
Beethoven conducted his 9th symphony being deaf-but at least the audience did not pity him!