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(John Coolidge Adams)
Described by the composer as
a "memory space" this piece of music was premiered in 2002 and
deals with the September 11th
2001 terrorist attack on New
York. It was a commission by an un-named
family in New York, The New
York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center's
Great Performers. The piece
features a trumpet section which is from The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives that asks "What
is the meaning of life?" while the accompanying strings represent
eternity. The chorus and
children's choir, including the composer's wife, children and
several friends, narrate and sing out quotes
that were assembled from the "Missing Persons" signs that were
posted after the event, and from the Portrait
of Grief series in the New York Times. A "soundscape"
was designed that surrounds the audience with the pre-recorded sounds of
the city and names of the victims being read out by different voices. The composition has received 3
Grammy Awards for Best Classical Album, Best Orchestra Performance and Best
Classical Contemporary Composition.
It also won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in music.
New York Philharmonic Recordings
Nonesuch 79816 (CD: On The Transmigration of Souls)
Chorus - New York Choral Artists
Chorus - Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Conductor -
Lorin Maazel
Trumpet - Philip Smith
Boy
Soprano - Preben Antonson
Source:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Transmigration_of_Souls
- http://www.earbox.com/W-transmigration.html
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