La création du monde

La Création du monde, Op 81a is a ballet music of the French composer Darius Milhaud ( 1892-1974 ). The elements of jazz containing composition was for Rolf de Maré and its Ballets suédois. Fernand Léger designed the stage set of the 1923 ballet premiered.

Genesis and first performance

Darius Milhaud had come back in 1920 in London with jazz in contact in 1922 with a stay in New York next salon forms (represented approximately by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra ) in Harlem and authentic New Orleans met and records of the jazz label Black Swan Records back taken to France. The order of Rolf de Maré, to compose a ballet for the Ballets suédois led by him, offered him the opportunity to compositionally translate these experiences.

The ballet scenario for a returning to African myths Création du monde ( " Creation of the World " ) was from Blaise Cendrars. Fernand Léger designed for the world premiere on 25 October 1923, the Théâtre des Champs- Élysées ( Choreography: Jean Börlin ) a archaisierendes, inspired by African folk art decor: Three 8 -foot statues of gods dominated the stage, under the protection of plants, animals and humans were created, presented by dancers in fantastic costumes.

Work

Instrumentation and Duration

In the cast of La Création du monde to Milhaud based on instruments of the jazz musical premiered in 1922 by Maceo Pinkard Liza, he had heard in Harlem. Provided 17 Solo Instruments: Woodwind 7 (2 flutes, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, alto saxophone), 4 brass (French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone), piano, percussion and 4 strings ( 2 violins, cello, double bass). The role of the recessed Viola is partly taken over by the saxophone.

An alternative version for piano and string quartet (Op. 81b ) was premiered in 1927 in Baden -Baden.

The performance time is about 17 to 20 minutes.

Music

The music Milhaud composed, according to the ballet scenario, from 6 merging records.