Langgaard 1918 Music of the Spheres Rozhdestvensky DanishNRSO
I. Like sunbeams on a coffin decorated with sweet-smelling flowers
II. Like the twinkling of stars in the blue sky at sunset
III. Like light andd the depths
IV. Like the refraction of sunbeams in the waves
V. Like the twinkling of a pearl of dew in the sun on a beautiful summer’s morning
VI. Longing – Despair – ecstasy
VII. Soul of the world – Abyss – All soul’s day
VIII. I wish …!
IX. Chaos – Run – Far and near
X. Flower wither
XI. Glimpse of the sun through tears
XII. Bells pealing: Look ! He comes
XIII. The gospel of flowers – From the far distance
XIV. The new day
XV. The end : Antichrist – Christ
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Music of the Spheres (Danish: Sfærernes Musik) is a composition by Rued Langgaard, written in 1916–18 and scored for orchestra, choir, organ, a « distant » orchestra, and a soprano soloist.
The work incorporates radical innovations, considered ahead of their time, including some of the earliest examples of string piano (playing directly on the strings of the piano), and Langgaard’s extensive use of slow moving string clusters prompted the composer György Ligeti to proclaim himself a « Langgaard-epigone » when presented with the score in the late 1960s.[not in citation given]
Analysis
According to the music researcher Eric Christensen – in an analysis of works utilizing the « spatial dimension » as a fundamental concept – the space of Music of the Spheres is limited at the upper level by repeated lines of high notes on the violins and flutes, and at the lower level by timpani and deep horns. In between it is filled out with clusters and polyphonic tonal surfaces that remove the sense of time moving forward. Instead, it makes time « acutely present » by accelerating repetitive patterns. The form of the work is accumulative and concludes with a vision of « the end of all things » expressed with stark musical contrast, such as violent music followed by noisy « anti-music » (produced by cymbals and kettle-drums) juxtaposed with « heavenly » music with angel choirs and the sound of harps.[4][5]
Instrumentation
Main orchestra
Four flutes (doubling: piccolo)
Three oboes (doubling: cor anglais)
Three clarinets
Three bassoons
Eight horns
Three trumpets
Three trombones
Bass tuba
Timpani
Percussion
« Glissando-piano » (string piano)
Organ
Soprano soloist
Strings
Distant orchestra
Two flutes
Oboe
Two clarinets
Horn
Timpani
Harp
Strings
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