Tōru Takemitsu - A String around Autumn, viola concerto (1989)

This piece moves around so fluidly — Takemitsu called it an "imaginary landscape" — that these timestamps are pretty arbitrary. (It's definitely best to explore this landscape, so rich in beautiful impressionist harmonies, in full!)
00:00 An initially dark and brooding texture is dispelled by warm and bright timbres
02:40 The music becomes more stressed and mysterious, but rich harmonies soon clear this up too
04:16 (4:32) A second theme is introduced, and the music grows more passionate
04:58 (Extraordinary bursts of color)
07:07 The music turns cold again (absolutely chilling chords at 7:45), but ever with moments of warmth
08:56 (these viola harmonics with the piccolo are so good) leading to a more intense version of the second theme at 09:12
12:55 A sharp but brief interjection of the violent cold
13:43 Cadenza, timbral expansions of the previous themes
15:21 The orchestra welcomes back the viola with extraordinary warmth
17:18 The gorgeously luminous conclusion

Composer: Tōru Takemitsu (武満徹 Takemitsu Tōru) (October 8, 1930 – February 20, 1996)
Violist: Philip Dukes
Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka

The composition was commissioned by the Festival d’Automne à Paris in 1989 as part of their commemoration of the French Revolution’s bicentennial. The title is based on a short poem by Makoto Ōoka:

Sink
Don’t sing.
Be simply
Silent.
Be simple:
A string
To wind around
Autumn.

Takemitsu stated that he chose this title because of the two words at the end: string and, more especially, autumn, even though some critics have acknowledged the two intended comparisons between the "string" (being the solo viola) and "autumn", which is the season in which the festival took place.Takemitsu, a French music lover, decided to create a composition very similar to the style of Claude Debussy and, especially, Olivier Messiaen, his "spiritual mentor", for the French audience of the festival.

[Cmaj]

It's a few days late for autumn, but I'm sure you'll find this piece gorgeous any time of year!

[NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

I think this is one of takemitsu s most beautiful pieces

[Flatscores]

Oh man, this is one of my absolute favorites. Even ordered the score just to have. Brilliant upload.

[yoknapatawpha]

Is it wrong that this is what I imagine Boulanger's style to have developed into had she lived longer? You can hear hints of the beginning of Psalm 129 in the first phrase!

[ethanblackburn]

My favorite Takemitsu piece. Thank you dearly for the upload.
06:40 and its subsequent appearances just make me melt.

[soundtreks]

Gorgeous work. Startling to realize Takemitsu was self taught.

[jonathanwingmusic]

Absolutely beautiful. I love Takemitsu, thanks for sharing!

[Scriabin_fan]

Haven’t listened to this piece in a while. It’s even more beautiful than I remembered.

[BenCantrell]

A bucket list piece for me. Thank you for sharing!

[marcbalosmith]

Wonderful! Thank you for uploading this gorgeous work.

[mrnnhnz]

That's a pretty cool piece. Thanks for uploading, and props to the conductor and orchestra.

[EmanuelLopez-]

The entry reminds me of "angel of dusk" by rautavaara

[gilevansinsideout]

Thanks so much for your awesome work 😊

[moxyblackfiddler]

I sound like this when i play Vivaldi.

[川口健太郎-me]

坂本龍一は武満徹が大キライだった
武満徹は坂本龍一に「耳が良い」と言った
坂本龍一は日本嫌い