LOGOS
for orchestra (2010)
duration 10 minutes
instrumentation 3(2 dbl. alt. f., 3 dbl. pic.)3(3 dbl. eng. h.)3(2 dbl. cl. Eb, 3 dbl. b cl.)3(3 dbl cb.)-4331-timp-2 perc-harp-strings
premiere 8th October 2010 by the Copenhagen Phil, conducted by Jesper Nordin, at the Concert Hall of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen
program
The title LOGOS refers to planetary Logoi, such as our own solar system’s Solar Logos, and takes as inspiration cosmic formation and destruction.
Like a musical Big Bang, a sound of breath opens the piece’s universe and starts it on its evolutionary path. Four such impulses set off more and more layers of sound, flowing towards the top of the orchestra’s range, while string chorales gather in speed and size to gradually form a climax.
In the 2nd section all sense of pulse dissipates as the strings take up a long flowing melody that hovers over a backdrop of slowly changing chords. This music builds in intensity, as the material becomes more and more compressed in tempo, leading to a violent outburst from the entire orchestra – a star exploding.
Next comes a series of brass crescendos, starting from the low register and building to a fanfare that includes the final string chorale of the first section. Out of this resounding climax the music achieves almost complete stillness as string chords gently float up to a backwards rendition of the opening music as the Universe contracts back into nothingness, awaiting the next Big Bang.
duration 10 minutes
instrumentation 3(2 dbl. alt. f., 3 dbl. pic.)3(3 dbl. eng. h.)3(2 dbl. cl. Eb, 3 dbl. b cl.)3(3 dbl cb.)-4331-timp-2 perc-harp-strings
premiere 8th October 2010 by the Copenhagen Phil, conducted by Jesper Nordin, at the Concert Hall of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen
program
The title LOGOS refers to planetary Logoi, such as our own solar system’s Solar Logos, and takes as inspiration cosmic formation and destruction.
Like a musical Big Bang, a sound of breath opens the piece’s universe and starts it on its evolutionary path. Four such impulses set off more and more layers of sound, flowing towards the top of the orchestra’s range, while string chorales gather in speed and size to gradually form a climax.
In the 2nd section all sense of pulse dissipates as the strings take up a long flowing melody that hovers over a backdrop of slowly changing chords. This music builds in intensity, as the material becomes more and more compressed in tempo, leading to a violent outburst from the entire orchestra – a star exploding.
Next comes a series of brass crescendos, starting from the low register and building to a fanfare that includes the final string chorale of the first section. Out of this resounding climax the music achieves almost complete stillness as string chords gently float up to a backwards rendition of the opening music as the Universe contracts back into nothingness, awaiting the next Big Bang.
| LOGOS.pdf |