Many of the works composed by Igor Stravinksy, late in his life, are EXCELLENT, yet largely overlooked. I really recommend the CD entitled "The Flood" very highly indeed. This DG disk also offers several other late works, including Abraham and Isaac, with Hebrew text. This makes the work utterly non European (rather than it might have been with a Latin or Greek text). The Requiem Canticles were the last major work, composed when Stravinsky was already in his mid 80s. Listen to them - the strident trumpet, haunting tubular bells, and flutter tonguing flute sounds. All of his late works were influenced by Schoenberg's Serial or 12 note technique, though adapted by the master. If you like the Mass or Symphony of Psalms, then you will aso appreciate the Requienm Canticles. How many othe great Composers could still offer such a masterpiece when aged in their mid 80s?
I personally think Stravinsky was the greatest 20th Century composer, and one of the greatest ever. Yet increasingly, Concert programmes seem to concentrate only upon the early Ballets - The Rite of Spring, and so forth, written for Diaghilev. Some commentators downplay the inter-war works, describing the Symphony in C as a neoclassical "aspidistra". Yet the 1930s also saw the haunting Symphony of Psalms. Later, Stravinsky's use of Serial technique has sometimes been written off as yet another borrowing, akin to a cuckoo. This is also unfair: the medival qualities of the Canticum Sacrum, for instance, the energy of Agon, or the Requiem Canticles. Stravinsky really is a composer who was highly innovative, prolific, and accomplished in a range of styles and formats.
I must praise Amazon - and its partner Elite Digital - who arranged an import from the USA. Sadly, this DG disk is out of print, though Arkiv has reprinted the disk from 1995. An earlier copy of the disk was mangled by a car CD player, so I am delighted to own a copy once again.
My Doctorate and MBA are in Business Studies, though I do still play music: I recently purchased a top of the range Howarths Oboe and also Cor Anglais. Whereas records were expensive when studying for A level music nearly 40 years ago, CDs and also Internet stores including Amazon have made music much accessible. As a serious amateur, I hope my Review inspires others to purchase.
