Stravinski : Symphonie De Psaumes - Boulanger: Du Fond De L'Abîme, Psaumes 24&129, Prière Bouddhique [CD de audio] London Symp

The 'psalm-symphonie' was created by Strawinsky in 1930 as a composition commissioned by Serge Koussewitzky for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Stravinsky had originally designed the piece as a pure orchestral work, but he was so inspired by the verses of the 39th Psalm that the 'psalm-symphonie' emerged. Orchestrated without violins, cellos and clarinets, the work sounds solemn and ascetic. The relationship between Koussewitzky and the composer was cold, despite the commissioned composition. The dedication reads 'Composed to honor God...dedicated to the Boston Symphony Orchestra', no word from Koussewitzky, who was supposedly very angry about this. The first presentation took place without him... Lili Boulanger, Nadia's sister, was a traveling companion of Strawinsky. She died young, but created some high-quality classical compositions. Three of his versions of psalms are documented here, anticipating composers such as Honegger, Messiaen and also Strawinsky in their clear, avant-garde tonality. More information - detailed booklet text and all sung texts