Ondes Martenot - Messiaen, Milhaud, Honegger, etc
Posted by: jcs_smith on 05 June 2006
I was listening to a great album the other day by Gaudi that uses the Ondes Martenot, which is an early keyboard based electronic instrument, based on the same sound generator as the Theremin. I know that it was used by Messiaen, Varese, Milhaud and Honegger but I just wondered if there were any examples of it available now. Obviously it was used by Brian Ferry on something or other and by Radiohead and even turns up on the soundtrack to Ghostbusters - not really interested in thats sort of stuff, but Varese (I'm a big fan of Varese) or other classicalish, electronic or ambient stuff I would definitely be interested in. Anyone know of anything available?
Posted on: 05 June 2006 by Simon Matthews
It is an amazing sounding instrument!
As a part of the Ether festival at the South Bank last year Jonny Greenwood from radiohead presented an evening of music. He was accompanied by the London Sinfonietta and Thom York.
Guests included the Nazareth orchestra and Lubna Salame. The concerts included the classical Arabic song, Enta Omri (music by Abdel-Wahab, lyrics Ahmed Shfq Kamel, sung originally by Oum Kalthom) and the sounds of composers Penderecki and Messiaen. I cannot remember which composers/music used the Martinet but a number were used throughout the concert and they sounded fantastic.
If you look up info on this concert you will probably be able to dig out more info on composers using this instrument etc.
Keep me posted if you get lucky. There is always the Star trek soundtrack if you get desperate!!
Posted on: 05 June 2006 by Tam
The instrument does have a wonderful sound. Messiaen used it in his famous Turangalila Symphony (and possibly elsewhere - I'm not all that familiar with his works). I might have another listen to it tonight - but I remember being struck by it the first time I heard the piece live (in a concert by the National Youth Orchestra - I think).
regards, Tam
Posted on: 06 June 2006 by oxgangs
will you be at usher hall this thursday tam
mike
Posted on: 06 June 2006 by Tam
Wasn't planning to be, why, what's on?
regards, Tam
Posted on: 06 June 2006 by oxgangs
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Stéphane Denève (conductor)
Nicholas Angelich (piano)
Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1
Tchaikovsky Symphony No.4
