The extraordinary collaboration between RADIOHEAD rock icon Jonny Greenwood and iconic Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki can now be yours. NPR has built a terrific listening post where you can hear each track of the collaboration for free, or purchase the entire album if you so please. The collection features two string pieces written by the elder composer, 1960’s Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima and 1961’s Polymorphia for 48 strings, juxtaposed with two of Greenwood’s similarly set answers to Penderecki’s work: Popcorn Superhet Receiver (inspired by Threnody) and 48 Responses to Polymorphia. Here, they both choose to use a seemingly antiquated vehicle — orchestral strings — to convey the noise, chaos and energy of our time. The results are ear-tingling. Penderecki is one of Greenwood’s biggest idols, and has been quite vocal about his admiration for the composer over the past several years, and the final result is nothing short of exquisite. Aside from his work with RADIOHEAD, Johnny Greenwood has composed the scores motion pictures including P.T. Anderson’s award-winning film There Will Be Blood starring Daniel Day Lewis, and most recently We Need To Talk About Kevin starring Tilda Swinton. RADIOHEAD is also heading out on a world tour this year and you can get all the dates by visiting RADIOHEAD.com.
TO HEAR THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN GREENWOOD & PENDERECKI CLICK HERE.
