When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia, they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music.
Debussy led the way and his piano pieces Pagodas and Gardens in the rain are fabulous pieces of aural picture painting.
No separate music on this episode – it’s in the podcast, played by François-Joël Thiollier, piano.
The gamelan music is Ladrang Wilujeng, slendro manyuraspecially recorded for Cacophony by Southbank Gamelan Players, with thanks to Southbank Centre.
Please comment below, share and subscribe to the podcast.
