Husa: Apotheosis of this Earth - I. Apotheosis (1970) - Northern Iowa Wind Symphony

Apotheosis of this Earth: I. Apotheosis (1970) by Karel Husa (Czech/USA, 1921-2016).
Performed by the Northern Iowa Wind Symphony with Dr. Ronald Johnson, Conductor, on November 18, 2016 in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Recorded with permission. All rights reserved.
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In Loving Memory
KAREL HUSA
1921-2016
Apotheosis of This Earth has been motivated by the present, desperate, stage of mankind and its immense problems with everyday killings, wars, hunger, extermination of fauna, huge forest fires, contamination of waters, and other pollutions.
Man’s brutal possession and misuse of Nature’s beauty cannot lead ... if continued at today’s speed ... but to catastrophe. However, the composer hopes that the slow, but continuous, destruction of this “Beautiful Earth” can be stopped, and that the second movement, Tragedy of Destruction, as well as the third, Postscript, only exist as fantasy, and will never become reality.
~~ Karel Husa ~~
October, 1970

[@jppitman1]

I heard this live I think at the Univ. of MD in the early 70`s and somehow the experience stuck with me. It`s a very dramatic piece--will probably still be relevant in ANOTHER 50 years--and this performance is simply out of this world. What outstanding musicians!

[@NationalRise574]

This sounds very haunting, as if somebody or something is watching me... 😟

[@hyperreed]

What is this considered, i.e., a symphony and symphonic poem of something else?