India post is coming up! I've been so busy since I got back I haven't felt like I've had time to do anything much! Looking for a place to live, catching up with friends and sorting out the next holiday have all been priorities.
This piece is by a Danish madmen called Langgaard, who is a modernist composer. Although a symphony it's only 5 minutes long and I was introduced to it by the BBC Proms the other night. Me and my dad saw another of his symphonies last year and really enjoyed it. This was just as excellent and featured four tubas right at the front of the stage.
The fact that the symphony is called Ixion isn't a mistake - it's named after a Greek who, after he died, was attached to a burning wheel and went round and round it for eternity. It also has much to do with Sisyphus, who had to roll a boulder up a hill and just as it reached the top, it fell down again. If you listen, you can hear that the tune is continually built up, only to come to nothing (or to be interrupted by the tubas). But don't worry if you can't hear it - the tune is pretty great anyways, regardless of any intellectual rambling!
Hope you enjoy!
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