Turangalîla-symphonie

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Turangalîla-symphonie (Sanskrit, turanga, ‘the passage of time, movement, rhythm’, and lîla, ‘play in the sense of divine action on the cosmos, also the play of creation, destruction, life and death, also love’). Sym. in 10 movts. by Messiaen for large orch. incl. ondes Martenot, pf., and section of pitched and unpitched perc. Largest of 3 works inspired by Tristan and Isolde legend (the others being 5 Rechants and Harawi). Commissioned by Koussevitzky, comp. between July 1946 and Nov. 1948. F.p. Boston SO cond. Bernstein, 1949. F.p. in England BBC broadcast, cond. W. Goehr, 1953; public, 1954. Movements entitled: Introduction, Chant d'amour 1, Turangalîla 1, Chant d'amour 2, Joie du sang des étoiles, Jardin du sommeil d'amour, Turangalîla 2, Développement de l'amour, Turangalîla 3, Final. Basis of complete ballet, choreog. Petit, Paris 1968, and choreog. Vesak, S. Francisco 1971. In 1960 at Hamburg 3 movts. were used for ballet, choreog. Van Dyk.