Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble
“Des Canyons aux Etoiles”
Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble
Saturday, December 13, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Pilgrim Congregational Church
“Exhilarating.”
–Anthony Tommasini, New York Times
The Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Tim Weiss, performs “Des Canyons aux Etoiles” (“From the Canyons to the Stars”), an evening-length tone poem in three parts, divided into 12 movements. This rarely heard large chamber work was inspired by Messiaen’s visit to Utah, and in particular his response to Bryce Canyon’s colors, landscape, and birds. Commissioned by Alice Tully to celebrate the bicentenary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, it was first performed in 1974 and is scored for 40 musicians and four soloists. $29, CMA members $27.