Top Ten Glissandos

I’ll end Xenakis Week with an unscientific, Letterman-style take on one of the composer’s favorite devices, the glissando. The sound of an instrument or a voice sliding from one note to another has an ambiguous effect: depending on the context, it can suggest jazzy liberation, wartime destruction, otherworldly realms, or primitive rituals. Inevitably, making a list of favorite glissandos is a deeply personal matter, and I expect that my choices will spur intense debate, especially on trombone forums. Nonetheless, here goes:

1. Alexander Zemlinsky, “Die Seejungfrau” (1902-3):

Riccardo Chailly conducting the RSO Berlin (London).

2. Stravinsky, “The Rite of Spring” (1911-13):

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the LA Philharmonic (DG).

3. Kid Ory, “Ory’s Creole Trombone” (1922):

Kid Ory’s Original Creole Jazz Band, aka Spike’s Seven Pods of Pepper Orchestra, on “Kid Ory” (Membran).

4. Gershwin, “Rhapsody in Blue” (1924):

Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony, with Benny Goodman, clarinet (Iron Needle).

5. Bartók, Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta (1936):

Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony (RCA).

6. Eduard Tubin, Symphony No. 6 (1952-54):

Neeme Järvi conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony (BIS).

7. Xenakis, “Metastasis” (1953-54):

Hans Rosbaud conducting the Southwest Radio Symphony (col legno).

8. Nina Simone singing “Strange Fruit” (1965):

From the “Nina Simone Anthology” (RCA).

9. Led Zeppelin, “Whole Lotta Love” (1969):

From “Led Zeppelin II” (Atlantic).

10. Michael Giacchino, “Eyeland,” from “Lost” (2004):

Tim Simonec conducting the Hollywood Studio Symphony (Varese Sarabande).

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