I actually stumbled on this piece while doing my readings for my Teaching Music as an Examination Subject module in..The Institute.
Just a fair warning, it is not easy on the ears and it can be unsettling right from the very start. Not for the faint-hearted, especially if you choose to close your eyes and listen. Yet I appreciate it because I'm impressed by Penderecki's ability to manipulate the orchestral instruments into creating such realistic sounds that seem to put one in the very heart of the scenario he was trying to create through this composition.
On top of helping me visualise the bombing through his music in my head as I listened, I actually sensed fear.
Also interesting to watch how this particular video walks the audience through the original musical score of the piece and enables one to appreciate Penderecki's interesting 20th Century music notation.
An additional piece of trivia: Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood is a fan of Penderecki and has written and performed compositions inspired by the latter.
For more information on Penderecki, visit his myspace page here.
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