Composer

:

Rued Langgaard

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1949

Average_duration

:

7:08

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Écrasez l'infâme, BVN 385 is a composition by Danish composer Rued Langgaard. The title translates to "Crush the infamous," which is a phrase that was famously used by French philosopher Voltaire to denounce religious intolerance and fanaticism. Langgaard's composition was inspired by Voltaire's call to action and is a musical representation of the struggle against oppression and tyranny. The composition was composed in 1921 and premiered in 1922 in Copenhagen. It is a single-movement work that is approximately 10 minutes in length. The piece is scored for a large orchestra, including brass, woodwinds, percussion, and strings. The piece begins with a slow and ominous introduction, featuring a low rumbling from the basses and timpani. This is followed by a series of dissonant chords that gradually build in intensity. The music then explodes into a frenzied and chaotic section, with the brass and percussion leading the charge. The strings then take over, playing a frenetic and virtuosic passage that is both thrilling and unsettling. The middle section of the piece is more subdued, with a mournful melody played by the woodwinds. This section is a stark contrast to the frenzied opening, and it provides a moment of reflection and contemplation. However, the calm is short-lived, and the music quickly builds back up to a fever pitch. The final section of the piece is a triumphant and exultant finale. The brass and percussion return, playing a series of fanfares and triumphant melodies. The strings then take over, playing a soaring and majestic melody that brings the piece to a thrilling conclusion. Overall, Écrasez l'infâme is a powerful and intense work that showcases Langgaard's unique style and vision. The piece is characterized by its use of dissonance, frenzied rhythms, and virtuosic passages. It is a testament to the composer's belief in the power of music to inspire and uplift, and it remains a powerful and relevant work to this day.

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