Chronochromie

Chronochromie (Time-Colour) is an orchestral work by French composer Olivier Messiaen, completed in 1960. It consists of seven movements:

1. Introduction

2. Strophe I

3. Antistrophe I

4. Strophe II

5. Antistrophe II

6. Epode

7. Coda

The sixth movement consists of 18 string instruments playing different birdsong. The first performance was in Donaueschingen on 16 October 1960, conducted by Hans Rosbaud.

Instrumentation
The work is scored for the following orchestra:


 * Woodwinds
 * 3 bassoons
 * 3 bassoons
 * 3 bassoons
 * 3 bassoons


 * Brass
 * 4 horns
 * 3 trombones
 * 1 tuba
 * 1 tuba


 * Percussion (6 players):
 * 1 glockenspiel
 * 1 xylophone
 * 1 marimba
 * bells
 * 3 gongs
 * suspended cymbal
 * chinese cymbal
 * tam-tam


 * Strings
 * 16 Violin I's
 * 16 Violin II's
 * 14 Violas
 * 12 Celli
 * 10 Double basses