Originally composed for the same, unusual instrumentation as Darius Milhaud's 1922 Chamber-Ballet 'La Creation du Monde' (and therefore intended to be played alongside it), this work tells the story of the creation of the world according to Norse Mythology.

In the beginning there is nothingness. Gradually this space fills with water, which freezes and then partially melts. From the drops of melting water a giant in human form emerges. This is Ymir. From his armpit a man and a woman appear - human in form, but giants like himself. Meanwhile Audlumba, a cow, has licked the melting ice and has revealed another giant, from whom the god Odin descends. Odin and his brothers kill the aged Ymir. They fashion the world from his body: of his flesh they make the earth, of his skull the heavens, of his blood the sea, of his bones the mountains and of his hair the trees.

Recorded live in the Chapel of Clare College Cambridge, Wednesday 22nd February 2017
Clare College New Music Ensemble
Conductor: John Tothill

Flutes: Jack Reddick, Heloise Lecomte
Oboe: Marie Louise James
Clarinets: Alex Card, Caroline Grint
Bassoon: Zac Moxon
Horn: James Liley
Trumpets: Ed Liebrecht, Martin Dibb-Fuller
Trombone: Tirion Rees-Davies
Timpani: Finlay Stafford
Percussion: Jordan Murray
Piano': Toby Hession
Violins: James Jones, Anita Monserrat
Alto Saxophone: Matthew Nixon
'Cello: Joshua Ballance
Bass: Graeme Hollingdale

Ymir And Odin (2017)

www.tobyhession.com

Toby Hession (b. 1997) is a British conductor, collaborative pianist and composer, currently on the Music Staff of Scottish Opera. He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Opera School 2019-21) and is a prize-winning graduate of Clare College, Cambridge (BA 2015-18 and MPhil 2018-19). He is a proud alumnus of the Georg Solti Accademia and Chetham's School of Music.

Toby's music is published by Edition Peters, and has been recorded and performed around the world by ensembles including The King's Singers, Voces8, The Aurora Orchestra, The Phoenix Chorale, Ensemble Perspectives, The National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain, Inner Voices, and the Choir of Clare College Cambridge. 

For enquiries, visit www.tobyhession.com

Ymir And Odin (2017)

toby.hession