Fire!
Like anything we humans don't really understand, fire fascinates us. But unlike such abstract concepts as infinity and gravity – and Cristiano Ronaldo's ability to keep a ball at his feet – fire is an everyday phenomenon we can create in an instant and examine up-close with our eyes. Unsurprisingly, it has fascinated composers ever since notated music existed.
Read more…- Holst • The Perfect Fool: Ballet of Spirits of Earth, Water and Fire op. 39 H. 150 (1918-1922) • 3. Dance of the Spirits of FireThe Perfect Fool: Ballet of Spirits of Earth, Water and Fire op. 39 H. 150 (1918-1922)
3. Dance of the Spirits of FireSir Adrian Boult, London Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2001 - Handel • Music for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351 • I. Ouverture. Adagio – Allegro – Lentement – AllegroMusic for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351
I. Ouverture. Adagio – Allegro – Lentement – AllegroSir Roger Norrington, London Classical Players℗ 1997 - Bax • Spring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913) • I. In the Forest before daySpring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913)
I. In the Forest before dayVernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraJanuary 1986, London, All Saints' Church, Tooting - Bax • Spring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913) • II. Daybreak and SunriseSpring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913)
II. Daybreak and SunriseVernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraJanuary 1986, London, All Saints' Church, Tooting - Bax • Spring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913) • III. Full DaySpring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913)
III. Full DayVernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraJanuary 1986, London, All Saints' Church, Tooting - Bax • Spring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913) • IV. Woodland Love - RomanceSpring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913)
IV. Woodland Love - RomanceVernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraJanuary 1986, London, All Saints' Church, Tooting - Bax • Spring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913) • V. MaenadsSpring Fire for Orchestra GP 153 (1913)
V. MaenadsVernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic OrchestraJanuary 1986, London, All Saints' Church, Tooting - Bach • Cantata 'O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe' BWV 34 • No. 1 Chorus 'O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe'Cantata 'O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe' BWV 34
No. 1 Chorus 'O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe'Steve Davislim (Tenor), Bernarda Fink (Alto), Christopher Foster (Bass), Sir John Eliot Gardiner
English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir℗ 2000 - Dun • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra 'Fire Ritual' (2018) • I. ModeratoConcerto for Violin and Orchestra 'Fire Ritual' (2018)
I. ModeratoEldbjørg Hemsing (Violin), Tan Dun
Oslo PhilharmonicSeptember 2018, Oslo, Oslo Concert Hall - Dun • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra 'Fire Ritual' (2018) • II. AndanteConcerto for Violin and Orchestra 'Fire Ritual' (2018)
II. AndanteEldbjørg Hemsing (Violin), Tan Dun
Oslo PhilharmonicSeptember 2018, Oslo, Oslo Concert Hall - Stravinsky • L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), Suite (1919) • 3. Danse infernale du roi Kachtchei (Infernal dance of King Kashchei)L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), Suite (1919)
3. Danse infernale du roi Kachtchei (Infernal dance of King Kashchei)Iván Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra℗ 2012 - Stravinsky • L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), Suite (1919) • 4. Berceuse (Lullaby)L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), Suite (1919)
4. Berceuse (Lullaby)Mariss Jansons, Concertgebouworkest℗ 2008 - Stravinsky • L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), Suite (1919) • 5. FinaleL'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), Suite (1919)
5. FinaleMariss Jansons, Concertgebouworkest℗ 2008 - Wagner • Die Walküre WWV 86B: 'Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind' (Wotans Abschied und Feuerzauber / Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music: Wotan, Act III) • Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind - FeuerzauberDie Walküre WWV 86B: 'Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind' (Wotans Abschied und Feuerzauber / Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music: Wotan, Act III)
Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind - FeuerzauberMatthias Goerne (Baritone), Daniel Harding
Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester2016, Stockholm - Verdi • Messa da Requiem • Sequentia • 1. Dies iraeMessa da Requiem
Sequentia • 1. Dies iraeKrassimira Stoyanova (Soprano), Marina Prudenskaja (Mezzo-soprano), Saimir Pirgu (Tenor), Orlin Anastassov (Bass), Mariss JansonsLive
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks2013, München, Philharmonie im Gasteig - Verdi • Messa da Requiem • Sequentia • 2. Tuba mirumMessa da Requiem
Sequentia • 2. Tuba mirumKrassimira Stoyanova (Soprano), Marina Prudenskaja (Mezzo-soprano), Saimir Pirgu (Tenor), Orlin Anastassov (Bass), Mariss JansonsLive
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks2013, München, Philharmonie im Gasteig - Brødsgaard • In girum imus nocte et consuminur igni (1990-1995) • 7. HymnIn girum imus nocte et consuminur igni (1990-1995)
7. HymnRolf Hind (Piano), Christopher Austin
Esbjerg EnsembleJanuary 2007, Esbjerg, Musikhuset Esbjerg - Marenzio • Madrigali a 6 voci, Libro 1 • I. 4 Qual vive salamandra in fiamma ardenteMadrigali a 6 voci, Libro 1
I. 4 Qual vive salamandra in fiamma ardenteCécile Kempenaers (Soprano), Markus Brutscher (Tenor), Matthias Gerchen (Bass), Matthias Lutze (Bass), Katharina Bäuml
Capella de la Torre℗ 2016 - Saariaho • True Fire (2014) • 1. Proposition ITrue Fire (2014)
1. Proposition IGerald Finley (Bass-baritone), Hannu Lintu
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra℗ 2019 - Hasse • Antonio e Cleopatra: 'Morte, col fiero aspetto' (Cleopatra, Part I) • Morte, col fiero aspettoAntonio e Cleopatra: 'Morte, col fiero aspetto' (Cleopatra, Part I)
Morte, col fiero aspettoAnna Prohaska (Soprano), Giovanni Antonini
Il Giardino ArmonicoDecember 2015, Wrocław, National Forum of Music, Wrocław - Beethoven • Sonata for Piano No. 17 in D minor op. 31/2 “The Tempest” • I. Largo – AllegroSonata for Piano No. 17 in D minor op. 31/2
I. Largo – AllegroFrançois-Frédéric Guy (Piano)℗ 2009 - Drattell • Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (1986) “Fire Dances” • Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (1986) "Fire Dances"Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (1986)
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (1986) "Fire Dances"David Shifrin (Clarinet), Gerard Schwarz
Seattle SymphonyJune 1994, Seattle, Seattle Center Opera House - Heggie • Camille Claudel: Into the Fire (2012) • Prelude: AwakeningCamille Claudel: Into the Fire (2012)
Prelude: AwakeningBrentano String QuartetLive
Serena Canin (Violin), Mark Steinberg (Violin), Misha Amory (Viola), Nina Lee (Violoncello), Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano)℗ 2018 - Heggie • Camille Claudel: Into the Fire (2012) • 1. RodinCamille Claudel: Into the Fire (2012)
1. RodinBrentano String QuartetLive
Serena Canin (Violin), Mark Steinberg (Violin), Misha Amory (Viola), Nina Lee (Violoncello), Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano)℗ 2018 - Sibelius • Tulen synty (The Origin of Fire), Tone Poem op. 32 • Lento assai - (Allegro moderato)Tulen synty (The Origin of Fire), Tone Poem op. 32
Lento assai - (Allegro moderato)Jorma Hynninen (Baritone), Paavo Berglund
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, YL Male Voice Choir℗ 1985 - Paganini • Caprices for Solo Violin op. 1 MS 25 • Caprice No. 24 in A minor (Tema con Variazioni, quasi presto)Caprices for Solo Violin op. 1 MS 25
Caprice No. 24 in A minor (Tema con Variazioni, quasi presto)Augustin Hadelich (Violin)℗ 2017 - Sibelius • Six Songs for Male Chorus op. 18 • 4. Saarella palaa (Fire on the Island)Six Songs for Male Chorus op. 18
4. Saarella palaa (Fire on the Island)Matti Hyökki, Kauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan LaulajatApril 2006, Kauniainen, Nya Paviljongen Kauniainen - Moravec • 'Cool Fire' for Flute, String Quartet, and Piano (2001) • III. Con fuoco'Cool Fire' for Flute, String Quartet, and Piano (2001)
III. Con fuocoMarya Martin (Flute), Jeewon Park (Piano), Ayano Ninomiya (Violin), Jessica Lee (Violin), Cynthia Phelps (Viola), Edward Arron (Violoncello)December 2007, New York, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York - Daugherty • Fire and Blood (2003) • I. VolcanoFire and Blood (2003)
I. VolcanoIda Kavafian (Violin), Neeme Järvi
Detroit Symphony OrchestraMay 2003, Detroit, Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit - Falla • El Amor Brujo: Pantomime and Ritual Fire Dance (version for piano sextet) • I. Pantomime and Ritual Fire DanceEl Amor Brujo: Pantomime and Ritual Fire Dance (version for piano sextet)
I. Pantomime and Ritual Fire DanceStockholm Syndrome Ensemble
Simon Crawford-Phillips (Piano), Malin Broman (Violin), Malin Broman (Viola), Fredrik Paulsson (Violin), Fredrik Paulsson (Viola), Malin William-Olsson (Violin), Malin William-Olsson (Viola), Johannes Rostamo (Violoncello), Rick Stotijn (Double Bass)September 2015, Stockholm, Swedish Radio - Maxwell Davies • The Beltane Fire, choreographic poem for orchestra op. 171 • Scene 5: The Beltane Fire - A Spell for Water - A Rune for Ripeness - A Prayer for Good AleThe Beltane Fire, choreographic poem for orchestra op. 171
Scene 5: The Beltane Fire - A Spell for Water - A Rune for Ripeness - A Prayer for Good AleSir Peter Maxwell Davies, BBC PhilharmonicJuly 1995, London, Studio 7 New Broadcasting House - Wiprud • String Quartet No. 1: Refining Fire • I. String Quartet No. 1: Refining FireString Quartet No. 1: Refining Fire
I. String Quartet No. 1: Refining FireThe Ciompi Quartet
Eric Pritchard (Violin), Hsiao-mei Ku (Violin), Jonathan Bagg (Viola), Fred Raimi (Violoncello)℗ 2011 - Hakim • The Embrace of Fire • I. —The Embrace of Fire
I. —Simon Leach (Organ)March 2018, Manchester, Church of the Holy Name of Jesus - Hakim • The Embrace of Fire • II. —The Embrace of Fire
II. —Simon Leach (Organ)March 2018, Manchester, Church of the Holy Name of Jesus - Hakim • The Embrace of Fire • III. —The Embrace of Fire
III. —Simon Leach (Organ)March 2018, Manchester, Church of the Holy Name of Jesus
This playlist takes in some of the most famous images of fire in music, from Wagner's uncanny evocation of a magic circle of flames to Handel's attempts to conjure the excitement of fireworks from two centuries earlier. We also hear some rarely heard yet utterly beautiful reflections of the element, and some striking contemporary works too. Along the way, there's some music that might have no concrete attachment to the flames or infernos, but burns with a passion that can only be described as 'fiery'!
[Due to geo-blocking restrictions, some tracks might be unavailable in certain territories.]