Dan Albertson

Dan Albertson has written for La Folia since 2004. His pursuits involve languages, lexicography, music, musicology, poetry, and translation, and tend to veer away from mainstream artists. He has worked on the Living Composers Project since 2000, has written articles for MusikTexte, has contributed entries to the encyclopedia Komponisten der Gegenwart, and has edited multiple volumes of the British journal Contemporary Music Review, on the composers Helmut Lachenmann, Earle Brown and Aldo Clementi, plus two volumes on modernism and the string quartet and a co-edited volume on Spanish music beyond Spanish borders. He has been a member of its editorial board since 2014. He translates notes for Cybele Records in Düsseldorf and has contributed his own notes to a variety of international labels. His poems are generally short and static in nature. American by birth, he is now based abroad.

Out with the New

For me, the most distressing element of new music is the self-satisfaction of its practitioners.

Out with the New

For me, the most distressing element of new music is the self-satisfaction of its practitioners.

Evolve or Perish

Classical music, if its foes are to be believed, should have been buried already.

Evolve or Perish

Classical music, if its foes are to be believed, should have been buried already.

Americans

Regular readers could divine that American music is anathema to me.

Americans

Regular readers could divine that American music is anathema to me.

Visiting Michigan

Who knew that Michigan could be fun?

Visiting Michigan

Who knew that Michigan could be fun?

Of Pain and Pleasure

In this case, a trio of autumnal concerts, more “pain” is displayed than “pleasure,” but such is the nature of music making in Chicago.

Of Pain and Pleasure

In this case, a trio of autumnal concerts, more “pain” is displayed than “pleasure,” but such is the nature of music making in Chicago.

Why Mahler Should Rest

Even before the recent spate of double celebrations, marking 150 years since his birth and 100 years since his death, Gustav Mahler had gained celebrity far beyond his achievements, which are large in scope, yet shallow in musical integrity.

Why Mahler Should Rest

Even before the recent spate of double celebrations, marking 150 years since his birth and 100 years since his death, Gustav Mahler had gained celebrity far beyond his achievements, which are large in scope, yet shallow in musical integrity.

Passion, Passion

The version here is mostly 1724, much more so than Haller, though the inclusion of the duet Himmel reiße, Welt erbebe was an adroit choice.

Passion, Passion

The version here is mostly 1724, much more so than Haller, though the inclusion of the duet Himmel reiße, Welt erbebe was an adroit choice.

Nine Plus

The Bruckner obsession is now tempered only slightly.

Nine Plus

The Bruckner obsession is now tempered only slightly.

Eights and Nines

Here is more proof of my unnatural kinship with St. Anton.

Eights and Nines

Here is more proof of my unnatural kinship with St. Anton.

Threes and Sevens

Is Brucknerophilia a recognized medical condition? I caught it early in life and find that it grows worse, by which I mean better, with age.

Threes and Sevens

Is Brucknerophilia a recognized medical condition? I caught it early in life and find that it grows worse, by which I mean better, with age.

Splatter 1: New & Improved!

Peripateia. Here I go airing “dirty laundry” again — I know how to make friends.

Splatter 1: New & Improved!

Peripateia. Here I go airing “dirty laundry” again — I know how to make friends.

Qualche tedeschi, qualche gaijin

A direct comparison of the existing recordings of Lachenmann’s three quartets seems pointless.

Qualche tedeschi, qualche gaijin

A direct comparison of the existing recordings of Lachenmann’s three quartets seems pointless.