Louis Andriessen: De Materie

Louis Andriessen (Composer), Reinbert de Leeuw (Conductor), ASKO Ensemble (Orchestra), Netherlands Chamber Choir [members of] (Orchestra), Schoenberg Ensemble (Orchestra), Susan Narucki (Performer), James Doing (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Susan Narucki, James Doing
• Orchestra: ASKO Ensemble, Netherlands Chamber Choir [members of], Schoenberg Ensemble
• Conductor: Reinbert de Leeuw
• Composer: Louis Andriessen
• Audio CD (September 24, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005J3J
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,856 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. De Materie, opera: Part 01

2. De Materie, opera: Part 2: Hadewijch

Disc: 2

1. De Materie, opera: Part 3: de Stijl

2. De Materie, opera: Part 04

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A monumental work by an incredible creative voice, April 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Louis Andriessen: De Materie (Audio CD)

Listeners unfamiliar with Andriessen's music may hesitate to invest in this two-disc set, but it is perhaps the best introduction to this unfortunately underappreciated composer. Andriessen brings together seemingly disparate elements--from jazz and rock to neo-medievalism, Stravinskian rhythmic inventiveness and Messaien-like mysticism--and molds them into his own intensely incisive musical personality. De Materie contains some of the most captivating examples of "minimalism" I've ever heard: the luminous, hypnotically slow unfolding of Part 4 is genuinely otherworldly, while the 144 accelerating fortissimo chords which open Part 1 create an exhilirating, terrifying "granite wall" of sound. Other sections, especially the bold choral declamation in Part 1 and much of "De Stijl" seem highly anti-minimalist in their rhythmic and harmonic intricacy. The performance, under the direction of Reinbert de Leeuw, is consistently forceful (though I think I detected some insecurity in the quick accelerandos and retardandos of Part 1) and the sound quality is uniformly excellent. I recommend this set without reservation and anticipate future Andriessen releases, as he is still very much with us.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Justin was right!, May 8, 2000

By 

Jeffrey Gordon (goleta, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louis Andriessen: De Materie (Audio CD)

Just got a chance to hear it in completion in the libary this weekend. The third movement (this was my second time for this gem) is absolutely mind-blowing. Bye-bye lunch money!

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andriessen...easily the most underappreciated composer., March 29, 2000

By 

Ryan D. Stroud (Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louis Andriessen: De Materie (Audio CD)

There is something in this music that has more life than anything I've heard recently. It's a burning energy combined with a genuine craft, and superior technique. Wonderful washes of sound, huge powerful blasts of energy. This CD made me go out and buy EVERYTHING that Andriessen had to offer. He is one of the greatest composers of our time. I highly reccomend this music, but add it is not for the faint of heart...it gets pretty deep :)