38′

Music by Philip Glass.
Published by Dunvagen Music Publishers.

Commissioned anonymously for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

SATB chorus; 2.pic.3.3.2.dbsn/ 6.4.2.btrb.1/ 4 perc (SD, TD, BD, tamb, t.bells, cow bells, maracas, tgl, wdbl, cym)/ 2hp/ pf/ str

November 2, 1989 by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Shaw.

A Symphonic portrait for Chorus and Orchestra in four movements: Mato Grosso – The Lake – The Dam – To the Sea. Text: Creation myth of the Guarani (sung in traditional Guarani).

Like The Light and The Canyon, Itaipú originated as Glass’ response both to nature and to a modern technological wonder, in this case the massive hydro-electric dam (…) that was then taking shape at Itaip� on the Parana River, which forms the border between Brazil and Paraguay. (…) While the music itself hymns the wonder wrought by nature and by humankind, the exotic text recounts the creation of the world, the actions of the gods and how the first people came to this special place.
— Nick Jones

Itaipú at Wise Music Classical

RECORDINGS:
Glass Masters on Sony Masterworks
Glass / Salonen on RCM
Itaipú/ The Canyon on Sony Masterworks
Obras Maestras / Oeuvres Majeures on Sony