Unsuk Chin - Mannequin (2014/2015)
00:00 1. MUSIC BOX - FEVER DREAM. An eerie music box (celesta) plays above subtle percussion machinations. Piercing string and flute harmonics sneak in 1:25 The music becomes panicked and frantic. (The orchestration techniques here are so astounding and varied, I can't describe them all) (2:09)(3:06)(3:49) (4:37)(5:05) 5:54 The music box creeps back in and fades away over a simultaneously warm and distressing string soundscape 07:01 2. SANDMAN AND CHILD. A gentle, eerily inviting pulse, slowly colored in/corrupted by the orchestra 8:31 A sudden violent turn of brass stings and frantic string runs (9:03) The gentle pulse returns but stressed by seemingly infinitely climbing string glissandos (10:10) 10:28 Climaxes in a wild flurry from all the orchestra (10:56) before the climbing string glisses slowly burn away the movement, despite desperate wind interjections 12:43 3. DANCE OF THE CLOCKWORK GIRL. A stilted dance hockets throughout the orchestra, gradually winding up (14:15) 15:45 Strident strings, brass stings, and woodwind flurries power the climax (16:14) before dissolving into unsynchronized pizz and harmonics 17:56 4. THE STOLEN EYES. The basses dance an awkward dance below ethereal bowed percussion (19:04) Alarming muted trumpets and distressed woodwinds 20:05 A deep bass drive, stabbing violin tremelos, as if being chased (20:42) High, piercing glisses, like sirens 22:32 A climactic nervous breakdown as all the orchestra rapidly start falling (23:12) Deep rumblings basses and the contrabassoon, stinging violin harmonics and bowed percussion, and brass stings end the piece