9:30
Pepe Becker - Capricorn 1: Pluto in terra
This work was written with the underground, ominous, hidden nature of Pluto in mind – in relation to the build up of energy created by the planetary 'cardinal T-square' which came to full force at the end of July 2010, with Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn (and Mars) in Libra and Uranus (and Jupiter) in Aries – and in rememberance of all those who have suffered in the aftermath of the series of earthquakes which struck near Christchurch, New Zealand, from 4th September 2010.
Illustration of Pluto seen from the surface of its largest moon, Charon. Photo: AFP / Mark Garlick / Science Photo Library
Some of the intervals used in the composition relate to the dates of these two earthquakes, some of the sound effects are intended to evoke both gravelly and murky qualities of slowly-shifting earth, and the (mostly) fixed mode reflects the ruthless, unstoppable nature of Pluto in the cardinal Earth Sign of Capricorn, alongside the forces of Nature itself.
Completed in the early hours of the morning on the anniversary of the first big (September) quake, Capricorn I: Pluto in terra is written for (and dedicated to) Christchurch-based harpist extraordinaire, Helen Webby – herself a highly talented, hard-working Capricorn – who commissioned this work with funding assistance from Creative New Zealand.
PEPE BECKER: Capricorn 1: Pluto in terra
Helen Webby (harp)
Ode CD MANU 5144
Messiaen - Turangalila Symphony
Olivier Messiaen Photo: Public Domain
At the time of writing this symphony Messiaen was fascinated by the myth of Tristan and Isolde and Turangalîla Symphony forms the central work in a trilogy of compositions concerned with the themes of romantic love and death.
When asked about the use of the ondes martenot, Messiaen enigmatically replied: "It's a love song". When the symphony premiered in 1949 the ondes martenot was performed by Ginette Martenot, sister of the instrument's inventor, Maurice Martenot.
Messiaen's Turangalîla will be part of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra 2019 season.
MESSIAEN: Turangalila Symphony
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano), Takashi Harada (ondes martenot), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Riccardo Chailly
DECCA 436 626
Paperghost
PAPERGHOST: The Once Great City; Cartoon Villain Mantra; The Saint of Honeycombs
Zach Webber (electronics)
Sonorous Circle
As if making amazing, intricate music isn’t enough of a mission, Zach Webber (of Paperghost) has been chipping away at the colossal task of animating & scoring a lofi mini-series!
WARNING: This video contains adult material
11:05 Relevant Tones: Green Umbrella Series
During the LA Philharmonic’s 2018/19 season, they are commissioning 50 new works from artists including Louis Andriessen, Unsuk Chin, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich, just to name a few. Composer and curator of the first of the LA Phil’s new music series, entitled Green Umbrella, Andrew Norman talks about the Southern Californian composers that he’s presenting. This SoCal repertoire includes works by Ethan Braun, Tina Tallon, and Carolyn Chen.
