Terrestre (Parts)
Sheet Music

Chamber Group, Flute, Percussion, Harp, Violin, Cello

SKU: BT.MUSCH66297-01

Composed by Kaija Saariaho. Book Only. Composed 2003. Chester Music #MUSCH66297-01. Published by Chester Music (BT.MUSCH66297-01).

Terrestre was commissioned to celebrate the composer's fiftieth birthday and while the name Terrestre calls to mind earthbound things, the score suggests the physical sensation of taking wing.The first of the two movements, l'Oiseau dansant, describes an aboriginal tale of a bird that teaches a village to dance, while the second movement, l'Oiseau, un satellite infime (infinitesimal) takes flight, diving andsoaring.The flutist is called upon to sing as he or she plays, sometimes matching the Flute note, sometimes harmonizing with it. Musicianship of the highest order is required of every member of the ensemble.

KaijaSaariaho is a contemporary Finnish composer living and working in Paris and much influenced by the electronic experimentations of her association of IRCAM, although Terrestre is entirely acousticin itsinstrumentation. She gained international renown for her first opera l'Amour du Loin and continues a prolific compositional life with a wide range of international performances.