The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, from about 2100 B.C.E., may be regarded as the first major work of literature, containing the Great Flood, the quest for immortality, the civilization/nature dichotomy, and other great themes. With its introspective central character it would seem a natural for musical treatment, but these have been sparse. An exception is this 1955 work by Bohuslav Martinu, which the composer wrote largely in the United States, following the epic's original English translation; having witnessed World War II ...
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The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, from about 2100 B.C.E., may be regarded as the first major work of literature, containing the Great Flood, the quest for immortality, the civilization/nature dichotomy, and other great themes. With its introspective central character it would seem a natural for musical treatment, but these have been sparse. An exception is this 1955 work by Bohuslav Martinu, which the composer wrote largely in the United States, following the epic's original English translation; having witnessed World War II and the Communist takeover of his native Czechoslovakia, he worried that the rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy presaged more of the same. He also felt that no one in his home country would perform the work. Later it was translated into Czech, and that version became better known; this is apparently the first recording of the original version. Sonically the recording of a live concert in early 2017 is strong. The soloists and the speaking narrator, Simon Callow, are all native English...
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Add this copy of Bohuslav Martinu: The Epic of Gilgamesh to cart. $32.42, new condition, Sold by Importcds rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunrise, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Supraphon.
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Bohuslav Martinu. New. New in new packaging. USA Orders only! Brand New product! please allow delivery times of 3-7 business days within the USA. US orders only please.
Add this copy of Bohuslav Martinu: The Epic of Gilgamesh to cart. $59.32, new condition, Sold by Entertainment by Post - UK rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BRISTOL, SOUTH GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2017 by Supraphon.