William Walton - Symphony No.1 - final episode - 1969 - Civilisation
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- Опубліковано 2 лис 2024
- William Walton Symphony no.1 in B flat minor - leading into "Heroic Materialism," the final episode of BBC's 1969 production, Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation". A little reminiscent of the beginning of "West Side Story" also.
I just listened to the whole symphony for the first time yesterday. Wow. Do you know who are the conductor and orchestra in this recording?
I remember the commentary that begins after this title--Clark says look the gleaming city--it's a monument to man whereas the cathedrals were a monument to God. But look closer, and you can see the dirt and grime and chaos of the city and you know that all is not well. This reminds me of the documentary "The Ascent of Money" that you can see on the pbs website.
@andreaandrewmilne Very eloquent !
Dear bikinatol,
Good post. You write funny sidebar comments. BTW, where did you get that taste for kitsch Russ Meyer films ;-)
Our life as social creatures creates and shapes what is right and wrong, much as energy-matter creates and then alters the geometry of space-time. We may choose to act in accordance with the truths of this created-but-objective morality. Neither projections of our psyche onto the external world, nor fantasies of divine authority can give us an escape route from facing mortal questions (to borrow Tom Nagel's book title).
Anyhow, here's some more moralising. This vid nicely captures [and of course so does Ken Clarke ;-) ] the truth about our human condition. This is a materialist world. We must struggle to understand and improve it. There are no alternate realms. We can create soaring, aspiring cities teaming with life. But, as Walton's edgy music from the 30s symbolizes, we can descend into bestiality, leaving continents in ruins, strewn with millions of corpses.
Do you know the name of the classical piece that plays on the end credits of this episode?
It is our option to act guided by love, co-operation and hope and creativity. Or to become like timetable planners and engine drivers, for cattle trains to the gates of Auschwitz. If we choose, we can pervert our technical prowess, for the design of weapons of horror, and incinerate this magnificent planet and ourselves.
Bikini Atol, or Love and Feminine Times? Which shall it be? Answers in less than 5000 words, SVP :-)
Regards, andrea ♥