Des canyons aux étoiles... was the result, and the 90-minute work premiered in 1974. This recording from just over a week ago saw the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sakari Oramo, tackle its complexity in grand style. Pianist Nicholas Hodges is in charge of the Messiaenic aviary, with birdsong transcribed not just from American species, but from all over the world, and lengthy passages of this punctuate the powerful sweep of the orchestra. Des Canyons also has in its score a massive percussion section, including a wind machine, thunder sheet and a geophone; the latter being a large drum of Messiaen's invention, filled with lead pellets. Listen and be blown away. (P.S. be sure to listen on headphones to get the benefit of the binaural mix.)
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pw: sgtg
Thanks so much for this post. I happened to be in London when this concert was taking place, and intended to go (a number of Proms tickets are always made available on the day itself), but in the end I was too unwell to do it. This is the next best thing. You're right about using headphones, too! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteAw man that sucks you couldn't go! This is a great recording though.
DeleteExcellent! This a truly major piece - by which I mean it's a big lad - that doesn't get an outing often enough. And your version is so much better than the one I managed, so thanks yet again.
ReplyDeleteGreat site...discovering a lot of wonderful, weird music here..thank you!!
ReplyDeleteStuffy from Sweden