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Christian Mason: Open to Infinity - a Grain of Sand

With the London Sinfonietta conducted by Thierry Fischer. Christian Mason was mentored by Boulez at the Lucerne Festival Academy and has already written a work for him. The title explores what Boulez as a figure means to Mason, as β€˜an archetype and a master of fine details’. β€˜Someone once told me that β€œtime doesn’t exist for Boulez any more”,’ he says. β€˜I liked that idea.’ He also liked and remembered the Blake poem, β€˜To see a World in a Grain of Sand’. β€˜It connected the Boulezian ideas of detail, precision and eternity.’ Mason’s orchestration echoes the piano, harp, percussion trio in Boulez’s Sur incises, with each instrumental family from the chamber orchestra providing a background colour. β€˜Usually I add lots of unusual instruments. With this one I wanted purity and primary colours.’

Duration:

12 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Performer London Sinfonietta
Performer Thierry Fischer

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