Daugherty: Krypton from Metropolis Symphony

Description

Since its premiere by the Baltimore Symphony in 1994 at Carnegie Hall, the GRAMMY®-winning Metropolis Symphony has entered the orchestral repertoire and been performed by orchestras all over the world.

Metropolis Symphony is a five-movement musical response to the world of Superman, and Krypton refers to the exploding planet from which the infant Superman escaped. A dark, microtonal sound world is created by glissandi in the strings, trombone, and siren. Two percussionists play antiphonal fire bells throughout the movement, as it evolves from a recurring solo motive in the cellos into ominous calls from the brass section. Gradually the movement builds toward an apocalyptic conclusion. Duration - ca. 7:00