LANGGAARD: Insectarium [1st mov] - Forficula auricularia (Ørentvist / Earwig)

Insektarium (Insectarium) BVN 134 (1917) is a solo piano piece in nine movements by Danish composer Rued Langgaard (1893-1952), here performed by Danish pianist Mathias Hammer.
Recorded and produced by CUBUS Film

Insektarium is subtitled "9 Puzzle Pictures" describing the following insects in a movement each:

1. Ørentvist (Earwig)
2. Vandregræshoppe (Migratory Locust)
3. Oldenborre (Cockchafer)
4. Stankelben (Daddy-Longlegs)
5. Guldsmed (Dragon Fly)
6. Dødningeur (Death-Watch Beetle)
7. Stueflue (Housefly)
8. Tusindben (Millipede)
9. Myg (Mosquito)

In these small pieces Langgaard - perhaps for the first time in the history of music - requires the pianist to play directly on the strings of the piano (Movements 1 and 7) and to rap with his knuckles on the lid of the piano (6th Movement). In 1917 no one realised that Langgaard in these works was thinking along untraditional lines - Insektarium was not performed for the first time until 60 years later, and was not published in print until as late as 1993.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• instrumental music
• classical music
• rued langgaard
• danish music

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