He cooperated with HUAC so that they would let him go home to Germany. East Germany, it turns out.
I still quote lines from "To Posterity" now and then, particularly the first verse as translated by R.H. Hays. (After listening to Brecht testify, I'm almost afraid to put an English translation of one of his poems up, but what the hell. Here it is.)
Indeed I live in the dark ages!
A guileless word is an absurdity.
A smooth forehead betokens
A hard heart. He who laughs
Has not yet heard
The terrible tidings.
Reading Brecht's complete testimony, I was struck by an exchange between Brecht and HUAC's chief investigator, Robert E. Stripling, about a song Brecht wrote with Hanns Eisler.
Stripling - Did you collaborate with Hanns Eisler in song uh In Praise of Learning?
Brecht - Yeah, uh collaborate, I wrote that song, he only wrote the music.
Ouch. I wonder what Kurt Weill thought of that testimony.
Billy Glad - Did you collaborate with Kurt Weill on The Threepenny Opera?
Brecht - Yeah, uh collaborate, I wrote that opera, he only wrote the music.
Siri Vik, Die Ballade von Mackie Messer (Mack the Knife)
I went to a hole-in-the-wall cabaret in Berlin a few years ago. The trans singers were impressed to learn I'd met Elvis.
A hard heart. He who laughs
Has not yet heard
The terrible tidings.
Reading Brecht's complete testimony, I was struck by an exchange between Brecht and HUAC's chief investigator, Robert E. Stripling, about a song Brecht wrote with Hanns Eisler.
Stripling - Did you collaborate with Hanns Eisler in song uh In Praise of Learning?
Brecht - Yeah, uh collaborate, I wrote that song, he only wrote the music.
Ouch. I wonder what Kurt Weill thought of that testimony.
Billy Glad - Did you collaborate with Kurt Weill on The Threepenny Opera?
Brecht - Yeah, uh collaborate, I wrote that opera, he only wrote the music.
Siri Vik, Die Ballade von Mackie Messer (Mack the Knife)
I went to a hole-in-the-wall cabaret in Berlin a few years ago. The trans singers were impressed to learn I'd met Elvis.
4 comments:
Thanks for posting this Billy.
First, if I haven't said it before, OFAM and its various programs, musicals, and concert series is by far the most interesting arts organization in Eugene.
I am not particular fan of the Eugene Symphony which, because its conductor, Danail Rachev, is so below the top rank conductors that the symphony is playing quite poorly and, indeed, is utterly boring for me. I wrote a commentary in the Register Guard stating that the symphony should not renew Rachev's contract. As a musician and music critic who trained as a conductor, I'm offended by so many things about Rachev (See the Rachev piece on my site under " in depth" ) that I have no idea why others like him. The symphony thinks I have a grudge against them instead of really reading my reviews. Many of them are positive. I just don't think Rachev is a good conductor. And when he can't conduct familiar works from memory, and I still can -- what can I say? As my friend quipped, why don't you ask them to let you conduct the symphony? First Rachev then you, same piece. Arrogant music critic vs. "great" conductor. And I say, any time. I'll do it. If they think I don't know what I'm saying, let me show them by conducting the symphony, but only back to back with Rachev. I will be conducing without the score, will he? Really, I am so weary of an arts group that thinks a conservatory trained music in composition, theory and conducting, doesn't have the right to criticize them -- what can I say.
My favorite complaint was a letter in the Register Guard that the paper should revoke my right to review the symphony. I tremble at the thought ! My right to review to the Eugene Symphony revoked !
What a personal disaster for my life. The letter writer suggested that surely the paper could find more qualified critics amongst the music students at the local university. Sure. Why not? If I'm not qualified, maybe they are. I await in sorrow, my rights revoked.
I'll have more to say on this whole deal -- why arts groups dump on the few last professional critics in the county, but, hey, what do I know ?
By contrast, OFAM always appreciates my reviews, even when they have some really sharp criticism. They certainly don't go bananas for saying a few critical things. No, Jim Ralph, OFAM's head guy, thanks me for taking time to review.
More, I learn things every Summer in their American Songbook festivals. And I'm quite interested in a singer who has several regular concerts at OFAM. Her name is Siri Vic. And I'll be reviewing all her concerts this year on my site.
My interest in the other "big" arts organization in Eugene - Oregon Bach Festival - is awaiting better programming. There's not a single concert this season that interests me. I'll more to say on OBF here or on my site.
So, the two important names in Eugene are OFAM and Siri Vic. Period.
Oddly, it was at the Eugene Symphony that Brian McWhorter and I, completely by accident, heard the infamous Golijov flap. As we said to ourselves WTF !
Well, the rest is some kid of monster with some "legs" -- odd timing to say the least.
"I'll have more to say on this whole deal -- why arts groups dump on the few last professional critics in the county, but, hey, what do I know?"
Now that word "county" interests me. Probably a typo, but worth thinking about. Worth a riff or two.
Something like "The Lane County Critic" sung to the tune of "Wichita Lineman."
I am a critic for the County,
And I search through every note,
Looking for the signs of
Another excessive quote.
But seriously, I have empathy for that young conductor. I mean, there he was with his foot on the ladder, looking to step up, or maybe even enjoy what you educated people call a sinecure and people like me call a nest on the ground, and along comes this Scottish Jew from NYC, Mansky McTommanoff, hollering from the back of the hall: "Hell, I can conduct better than that!" What a nightmare. And now McTommanoff challenges him to a mano a mano conduct off of some piece that Mansky, being at least a 100 years old, will have down pat. No way. He's not going for it. I will tell him not to. You're a young man. You have your whole life ahead of you, son. Don't pick up that glove.
Dude's named Rachev.
From what I know of stories, name like that doesn't turn out lucky.
Walk away, Rachev.
Billy, that last comment of yourn done made me laugh so hard, I plumb fell off my Komogator and choked on my own spit!
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