The Survival of the Symphony

The BBC has just put up a 60 year archive of "Reith Lectures". All very good stuff. This is one that I find particularly interesting. Sandy Goehr is a well known 20th century composer and lecturer, he's very much a contemporary of Boulez/ Stockhausen/ Birtwistle- an "old guard" modernist I suppose. This is a talk he gave in 1987 dealing, partly, with contemporary orchestral music as it then stood. Was lucky enough to see him lecturing just last year... as a young musician (in classical terms) I find it interesting to hear just how little he's changed in just over 20 years. Anyway check it out if you're interested in classical music, he's got a lovely speaking voice.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00gq0sz

edit: Here's a sample of his own work for context

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9TqvPxItlA&feature=related

Very nice. Going through them now.