The Passions

Les Baxter's innovative early Exotica work for Capital Records featuring vocalist Bas Sheva!

Les Baxter had been concept-driven from the moment he worked on Music Out of the Moon (1947). The Venn diagram that illustrates the relationship of his classical aspiration and commercial sensibility finds its intersection in adventurous thematic mood music albums, ranging from the moon to perfume, (semi-fabricated) Peruvian mythology, (extremely fabricated) jungle life, feminine anatomy, the aquatic world, and even human emotion itself. The Passions is unique music by any standard. Les was clearly in Ravel’s thrall, and herein orchestration was clearly informed by Rhapsode Espagnole, the French composer’s 1907 landmark. While Les spoke more often of Stravinsky than he did of any other composer, he also deeply admired Shostakovitch, and enjoyed sitting at the piano and sight reading through Ravel’s piano music (during which time he would point out favorite passages). There are touches of gamelan music throughout The Passions, spiky metallic percussion touches coupled with dramatic string writing that points to Stravinsky’s most dark and angular pre-1920 works.

This edition is engraved from the original score manuscripts by Les Baxter, Pete Rugolo, and Al Harris.