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Falkenberg: The Moons Symphony / Alsop, London Symphony Orchestra
Signum Classics

Falkenberg: The Moons Symphony / Alsop, London Symphony Orchestra

$19.99

Details

Composer
Amanda Lee Falkenberg, Claude Debussy
Artist
Daniel, London, Leo, Koek, Amanda Lee, Jemison, Marin, Falkenberg, Alsop
Format
CD
Label
Signum Classics
Released
Oct 07, 2022
Catalog #
SIGCD730
UPC
635212073025

About

International award-winning composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg has composed a dynamic new work that merges music and science. The seven-movement symphony dramatizes past, present and future moon explorations, and highlights discoveries that have been made in our search for other worlds that could possibly sustain life.

Through seven exhilarating movements, concertgoers will experience a stunning space adventure that focuses on the stories of these fascinating moons. But what uniquely defines this symphony is its planetary core message which culminates in the 7th movement, dedicated to Earth-Moon. This final movement offers a discovery of a different kind and provides a unique opportunity to view our planet united and whole, from the surface of the Moon, a breathtaking, life-changing experience referred to as THE OVERVIEW EFFECT. The impact of such a privileged sight has inspired a call to action from Astronauts and as a result  has propelled them to share this profound perspective shift with all of us here on Earth.

Through the persuasive and powerful forces of music, the symphony offers Earthlings a chance to contemplate who and where we are in the universe. In 42 minutes they will be taken on an emotional journey, marveling at the wonders of these moons, the beauty of our planet, and possibly even experience their own perspective shift as crew-mates aboard this spaceship we cruise, Earth. This is the story of THE MOONS SYMPHONY.

Learn more through the project's YouTube channel!

REVIEWS:

Growing up in the Barossa Valley, composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg had a better view of the starry night sky than most. Such a view doubtless inspired this seven-movement choral symphony, a majestic evocation of three moons circling Jupiter, two orbiting Saturn and one from Uranus, as well as our own moon. 

An inquisitive and intrepid explorer, Falkenberg involved astronomers and astronauts in her quest to summon up each moon as vividly and accurately as possible. This research is reflected not only in the music but in the economically expressive sung texts which she also composed.

Out of hundreds of moons, Falkenberg’s choice illustrates enormous diversity: from Jupiter’s volcanic Io to oceanic depths of its sister Europa, then to the vast expanses of Saturn’s Titan, the mighty geysers of tiny Enceladus, the enormous canyons of Uranus’ Miranda and the magnetic force of Jupiter’s Ganymede. Finally, and most importantly, the symphony celebrates earthrise as seen from the surface of the moon, issuing a heartfelt call for all humanity to unite. 

Unabashedly cinematic in style, Falkenberg’s score naturally pays homage Holst’s ground-breaking depiction of the planets, while also echoing film music great John Williams and occasionally Bernard Herrmann. 

Falkenberg’s passionate and creative adaptation of the film music genre is firmly embraced by the committed artistry of the London Symphony under Marin Alsop and the warm cohesion and crystalline diction of the London Voices directed by Ben Parry, who recorded the choral music separately due to COVID restrictions. 

The Moons Symphony offers a precious and timely perspective on our own fragile planet that we would do well to heed.

-- Limelight

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 I. Io: Celestial Tug of War 08:24
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Io: Celestial Tug of War
    Duration
    08:24
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  2. 2 II. Europa: Is there an Ocean? 05:50
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Europa: Is there an Ocean?
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  3. 3 III. Titan: Equatorial Dunes and Methane Monsoons 06:12
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Titan: Equatorial Dunes and Methane Monsoons
    Duration
    06:12
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  4. 4 IV. Enceladus: Rows and Rows of Gigantic Geysers 05:47
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Enceladus: Rows and Rows of Gigantic Geysers
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  5. 5 V. Miranda: Monolithic Cliff 04:23
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Miranda: Monolithic Cliff
    Duration
    04:23
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  6. 6 VI. Ganymede: Magnetic Forces and Colossal Discoveries 05:43
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Ganymede: Magnetic Forces and Colossal Discoveries
    Duration
    05:43
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  7. 7 VII. Earth Moon: Earthrise - The Overview 05:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Earth Moon: Earthrise - The Overview
    Duration
    05:44
    Composer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
    Ensemble
    London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  8. 8 Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de lune 04:42
    Track
    8
    Title
    Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de lune
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Amanda Lee Falkenberg
  9. 9 Reflections on Symphonic Space Flight 01:36
    Track
    9
    Title
    Reflections on Symphonic Space Flight
    Duration
    01:36