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- Poul Ruders
Zenith (1993)
- Edition Wilhelm Hansen Copenhagen (World)
- 3.3.3.3/4.2.2.1+euph/5perc/pf/epf/str
- 25 min
Programme Note
Zenith makes the second installment of the so-called Solar Trilogy in which Gong (premiered January 7th 1993 in Copenhagen by The Danish National Radio Orchestra) is number one; the third and final part will be entitled Corona and is ”about” the ”crown” of the Sun: the ultra-hot halo encircling and radiating from the centre of the solar system itself: the Sun. Solaris. Helios.
Where as Gong describes the inner “life” of the Sun itself, Zenith takes us back to Earth; the music depicts two sorts of moving towards zenith (point of culmination): quite literally the orbit of the Sun across the sky, precisely as in Carl Nielsen’s Helios Ouverture, but here sustained over a time span of almost half an hour. But it is also a musical parable of sorts, about the archetypal, basic human striving towards climaxes, will power, vision, etc… Thereafter descent, decay, nothingness; ergo Birth-Life-Death-Oblivion, a musical/architectural arch inherent in several of my pieces (Monodrama, Polydrama, Tundra, Throne among others).
Zenith is an immensely slow music, of almost Oriental patience; predominatly hushed around a tonal “axis” of C sharp.
-Poul Ruders, London, February 1993.
Where as Gong describes the inner “life” of the Sun itself, Zenith takes us back to Earth; the music depicts two sorts of moving towards zenith (point of culmination): quite literally the orbit of the Sun across the sky, precisely as in Carl Nielsen’s Helios Ouverture, but here sustained over a time span of almost half an hour. But it is also a musical parable of sorts, about the archetypal, basic human striving towards climaxes, will power, vision, etc… Thereafter descent, decay, nothingness; ergo Birth-Life-Death-Oblivion, a musical/architectural arch inherent in several of my pieces (Monodrama, Polydrama, Tundra, Throne among others).
Zenith is an immensely slow music, of almost Oriental patience; predominatly hushed around a tonal “axis” of C sharp.
-Poul Ruders, London, February 1993.
Media
Zenith: Dawning
Scores
Score preview
Features
- Poul Ruders at 75
- For the celebration of Poul Ruders’ 75th birthday, Wise Music Group is pleased to present a compilation of the most remarkable works from the Danish composer.
