Open to Infinity: A Grain of Sand
[ens] 2015 duration: 12' fl(A-fl).ob.clar(B-clar).bsn(dble bsn) – hn.trp.tbne – vibr – hp – pno – 2vl.va.vc.db (winds and strings each + crotales)
Description
Open to Infinity: A Grain of Sand was written as a 90th birthday present for Pierre Boulez. Reflecting on his mastery of the finest details in his own composition, I was inspired by the possibility of creating an expansive world from the smallest grain of musical material. I found this notion crystallised in William Blake’s poem Auguries of Innocence:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
(Christian Mason)
MM 2385422
hire material
Description
Open to Infinity: A Grain of Sand was written as a 90th birthday present for Pierre Boulez. Reflecting on his mastery of the finest details in his own composition, I was inspired by the possibility of creating an expansive world from the smallest grain of musical material. I found this notion crystallised in William Blake’s poem Auguries of Innocence:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
(Christian Mason)
World premiere
World premiere: Lucerne (Lucerne Festival), August 23, 2015
Commissioned by the Lucerne Festival and BBC Radio 3