Celestial Canons
Commissioned by Staunton Music Festival
Completed in 2016
Duration: 14 minutes
Premiered by Eric Guinivan, Casey Cangelosi, and Michael Overman at the 2016 Staunton Music Festival
Staunton, Virginia
Completed in 2016
Duration: 14 minutes
Premiered by Eric Guinivan, Casey Cangelosi, and Michael Overman at the 2016 Staunton Music Festival
Staunton, Virginia
Program Note
Celestial Canons is a musical depiction of the fourth day of the biblical creation story, during which the sun, moon, and stars are created. The textures, moods, and narrative shape of the work are directly inspired by this astronomical imagery, and the instrumentation of the ensemble is constructed to allow for a wide variety of high and low timbres and color combinations. As the title might suggest, the piece is constructed from an intricately-woven tapestry of canonic melodies that rotate among the three members of the ensemble.
Movement 1, “Sun,” begins with just a flickering of metallic light and gradually flares into a burst of radiant energy. Movement 2, “Moon,” is more introspective and reflective, drawing upon lower, colder, and darker sounds. Movement 3, “Stars,” begins with light, pointed, and sparkling rhythms that gradually evolve towards a tumultuous, thundering conclusion intended to be evocative of the creation of a massive and rapidly expanding cosmos.
Celestial Canons is scored for three percussionists playing 6 Triangles, 9 Singing Bowls, 12 Drums, 3 Tam-tams, 3 Timpani, Chimes, 4 Noah Bells, 2 Bell Trees, 2 Log Drums, and Chimes.
Movement 1, “Sun,” begins with just a flickering of metallic light and gradually flares into a burst of radiant energy. Movement 2, “Moon,” is more introspective and reflective, drawing upon lower, colder, and darker sounds. Movement 3, “Stars,” begins with light, pointed, and sparkling rhythms that gradually evolve towards a tumultuous, thundering conclusion intended to be evocative of the creation of a massive and rapidly expanding cosmos.
Celestial Canons is scored for three percussionists playing 6 Triangles, 9 Singing Bowls, 12 Drums, 3 Tam-tams, 3 Timpani, Chimes, 4 Noah Bells, 2 Bell Trees, 2 Log Drums, and Chimes.