George Antheil's
"greatest hit", a cacophony of percussion and mechanical
instruments, which mortified audiences at its 1927 debut in the
States.Originally scored for sixteen
player pianos, percussion, drums and xylophones, it was re-scored several
times by the composer.The
last of these, dating from 1953, includes a paltry four pianos, two
xylophones, drums, bells, gong, cymbal, tambourine, woodblock, triangle and
aeroplane propellers.Although
it was too modern for the audiences for which it was written, it is now
regarded as one of the most important compositions of the twentieth
century.
Philadelphia
Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra recordings
Ballet Mecanique (Revised 1953)
Naxos 8.559060 (CD: ANTHEIL: Ballet Mecanique)
Conductor - Daniel
Spalding
Sources:
CD liner notes: Naxos
8.559060 (CD: ANTHEIL: Ballet
Mecanique)
