But, despite strong feelings to the contrary, I found the title of Louis' latest song cycle, just barely compelling enough to sit down with him, once again:
Greenberg: The name of your latest piece is--?
Monteverdi: "Six Songs I Never Should Have Written"
Greenberg: Touches me as a bit morose.
Monteverdi: Never heard of Moe Rose. Is he good?
Greenberg: So that's the name of the song cycle. But what are the titles of the individual songs?
Monteverdi: Well, there's "First Song I Never Should Have Written". Followed by, "Second Song I Never should have Written". Then there's "Third" - (Over talk)
Greenberg: Got it. What would you say was your biggest influence?
Monteverdi: You know those 1.5. liters of wine?
Greenberg: WHO would you say is your biggest influence??
Monteverdi: I'm not sure I understand..
Greenberg: What do your songs sound like?
Monteverdi: They sound like crap.
Greenberg: Which is why they're called-
Monteverdi: Yeah!
Greenberg: So, will all six songs be performed?
Monteverdi: Hardly. First of all, there's only three of them.
Greenberg: But, the title-
Monteverdi: And the third song's incomplete.
Greenberg: Do you intend to finish the third song?
Monteverdi: Sure - I'd love to get it up to at least half-a-minute.
Greenberg: So, let me see - in your compositional technique these songs are conceived as sparse, perhaps delicate, miniatures??
Monteverdi: You are one fruity guy.
Greenberg: Well, that's it. We're done. As far as I'm concerned, you can take these songs and wrap your fish in them!~
Monterverdi: Franz Schubert did!
Greenberg: Seriously?
Monteverdi: Absolutely! Haven't you heard of the "Trout Quintet"?
Greenberg: Is there any wine left in that bottle?
-OUT-
