Textiles and Ligeti

I went to the Metropolitan Museum, both to hear a concert by the ensemble "Alarm Will Sound" and to see art.
The show "Interwoven Globe", an exhibit of textiles from around the world between 1500 and 1800, was both fascinating and a great visual treat.   The fascination for me was in the cross-global pollination of ideas and techniques.   For example, one hanging, "The Abduction of Helen"  (of Troy) was a depiction of an ancient Greek story, created by Chinese artisans for the Portuguese market.   The embroiderers  worked from European visual models, but also incorporated elements from Chinese weaving.  In addition there were painted sections, done by Chinese artists who had been trained in Japan by Jesuits!    Talk about globalism and multiculturalism....
Here it is: click to enlarge (It is about 15 feet wide in the original):

Other examples were equally complex in global connections, adding Iran, Turkey, and Latin America into the mix.

Here is another one, as described on the Met's website:

This tapestry was produced by highly skilled Andean weavers. Its diverse iconography reflects the range of sources and ideas that informed the intellectual framework of colonial Andean society. Along with scenes from the Old Testament, classical Greek mythology, and local daily life, the amorphous central blue shape seems to reinterpret a Chinese symbol. At top left, three horsemen (possibly representing the Magi) wear European-style garments; above their heads is the enigmatic phraseMoussom Nessept. Although the precise meaning is unknown, moussom may relate to the Arabic mawsim, referring to trade winds that are favorable for sailing.

(I have to say the the Met's website is exemplary, with easy access to high resolution images and information.)

After viewing this exhibition and a quick look at the Balthus (which is too creepy for my taste..), I wandered through the Met and had a light dinner in the cafeteria before going to a 7 PM concert.   This was my first time at an evening at the Met, and the atmosphere was very nice; less crowded and noisy than during the day.  And there is something to be said for being able to peruse ancient Egyptian art while waiting for a concert to start.

The concert, performed by the ensemble Alarm Will Sound, was excellent.  They played a early Thomas Ades piece, "Living Toys", which is almost hyperactive in its rapid juxtaposition of contrasting materials.  It is orchestrated to the hilt.   I also heard a kind of Ivesian quality to the piece, with its jarring quotations and juxtapositions.  Which made even more sense when the next piece on the program was Ives, one of his crazy ragtime pieces for ensemble.   The highlight, though, was the Ligeti "Chamber Concerto" from 1969 or so.   To hear all of Ligeti's inventive sonic textures live was treat.  The concert ended with another Ives ragtime piece, even crazier than the previous one.