Gesualdo expert dies, peacefully
NewsThe greatest modern expert on Carlo Gesualdo, musician and murderer, was Glenn Watkins, whose book on the baroque wife-killer had a preface by none other than Igor Stravinsky. His next book had an introduction by Claudio Abbado.
Glen Watkins, the kind of musicologist musicians really need, has died of natural causes at the age of 94.
*slow clap*
A most beloved professor. I took his class “Schoenberg & Stravinsky”. unforgettable. Made the students love the subject matter. That love has endured throughout my career in music.
Within these few sentences Mr. Watkins is called Glenn (correct) and Glen (incorrect). When will someone be assigned to proof SD posts before they’re released?
That would be the devil’s own job!
For some context: On an autumn night in October 1590, Gesualdo caught his wife “in flagrante delicto” with a man with whom she had recently begun an affair, and killed them both on the spot. To quote Seinfeld- “It was a crime of passion. Leave it alone.”
Oh, so Seinfeld actually did contain some funny lines!! I knew I’d hear one if I waited long enough. Other wife killers; the actors Gig Young, Robert Blake and Claudine Longet (yes, a woman can kill!!!). Just to name some.
…explain the photo. Gracias.
Rest in peace dear friend. What a great teacher you were and an inspiration to so many! As our friend Liszt would have said- “a well-lived life!” And we will all cherish the memories. Thank you Glenn.
The Stravinsky introduction is 6 or 7 pages long and of particular interest. Not your usual “talking head” dashing off a couple of hundred words. It start off like this
“Musicians may yet save Gesualdo from musicologists, but certainly the latter have had the best of it until now”
The picture is someone being tortured by the Spanish Inquisition (no-one expected them).