Birtwistle, Harrison: The Cry of Anubis (1994) 13'
for tuba and orchestra
Scoring
2(I,II=picc).2(II=corA).2.2-4.2.0.0-timp.perc(1):t.bells/glsp-harp- strings
World Premiere
1/16/1995
Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Owen Slade, tuba / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Elgar Howarth
Composer's Notes
The Cry of Anubis, part tuba concerto, part tone poem, grew out of Birtwistle’s fascination with Anubis, the jackal-headed god if the necropolis in Egyptian mythology. The character, and the tuba, played a significant role in the composer’s opera The Second Mrs Kong (1993-94), as an overseer of the world of shadows and, transformed, as Kong’s nemesis, the Death of Kong. In The Cry of Anubis, the god again leads the funeral precession and is personified musically by the solo tuba. The Cry of Anubis is not a suite of excerpts from the opera, but rather takes some of the musical material on a new compositional journey.
© Harrison Birtwistle
Reproduction Rights:
This programme note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer
Press Quotes
"Anubis, half human, half divine, epitomises that otherworldly sphere conjured by Birtwistle's score... a muted, sombre processional, gathering momentum and intensity before closing in marvellously evocative fashion."
The Times
Recommended Recording
Owen Slade, tuba / The Hallé / Ryan Wigglesworth
NMC D156
Click here to purchase this CD from Amazon
for tuba and orchestra
Scoring
2(I,II=picc).2(II=corA).2.2-4.2.0.0-timp.perc(1):t.bells/glsp-harp- strings
World Premiere
1/16/1995
Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Owen Slade, tuba / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Elgar Howarth
Composer's Notes
The Cry of Anubis, part tuba concerto, part tone poem, grew out of Birtwistle’s fascination with Anubis, the jackal-headed god if the necropolis in Egyptian mythology. The character, and the tuba, played a significant role in the composer’s opera The Second Mrs Kong (1993-94), as an overseer of the world of shadows and, transformed, as Kong’s nemesis, the Death of Kong. In The Cry of Anubis, the god again leads the funeral precession and is personified musically by the solo tuba. The Cry of Anubis is not a suite of excerpts from the opera, but rather takes some of the musical material on a new compositional journey.
© Harrison Birtwistle
Reproduction Rights:
This programme note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer
Press Quotes
"Anubis, half human, half divine, epitomises that otherworldly sphere conjured by Birtwistle's score... a muted, sombre processional, gathering momentum and intensity before closing in marvellously evocative fashion."
The Times
Recommended Recording
Owen Slade, tuba / The Hallé / Ryan Wigglesworth
NMC D156
Click here to purchase this CD from Amazon
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