Ferde Grofé - Grand Canyon Suite - II. The Painted Desert

[guntherlove54]

Thanks for this. Would you happen to have recording information, such as the orchestra and conductor?

[TheMadrigalista]

In addition to my previous comment. The second movement (Painted Desert) ends with a crescendo that culminates in three repeated notes for five or six beats. I think the same technique of Debussy's “L'après-midi d'un faune” when at the beginning of the symphonic poem the semi-human creature see himself reflected for the first time in a pond, touches the water, and the circles in the water clears its image. However, all this I offer as a figment of my imagination.

[TheMadrigalista]

Personally I have always loved two distinct moments: the opening of the first movement (sunshine) with the solo flute in which vibrates the vast enclosed space of the canyon revealed by the trill of a nightingale at dawn. The crescendo at the close of the second movement (Painted Desert) where you just close your eyes to see the legendary multi-colored glitter of the sand and rocks at dawn and dusk. This I see through the music like a dream.

[581983141]

@TheodenThengling,

I remember it was a view on the Mississippi.

[TheodenThengling]

581983141, what place is depicted in the photo starting at 2:45? Doesn't look like the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert. It does look like a place I know called Petencito.

[augustomariante]

The first time I listened Grofé was in Valentino's Ken Russell. It has impressed me too much. Good Cinema is always a great source of knowledgement. Thanks for share it with us.