SKU: SU.27020085

Jacob vs. Angel is a piece about crisis of conscience, ambiguity, and misinterpretation expressed through the depiction of a major battle, the goal of which is never made entirely clear. Based on the biblical story, the work is highly programmatic, with each of the six movements reflecting a corresponding stanza from the titular poem by Alice Weaver Flaherty. The piece was originally composed as a vehicle for virtuoso organist Heinrich Christensen, and later orchestrated. The first movement introduces the main musical material--a five note motive, the intervals of which are reorganized to create melodic and harmonic development throughout the piece. The second, third, and fourth movements depict the brutal fight between Jacob and the angel, and lead one to the next without pause. The fifth movement is about the post-battle scene, and the final movement is an epilogue, reframing the ideas from the previous movements. The music elucidates various actions from the Flaherty poem—sand skittering across the desert, aggressive acts of violence and sensuality between the protagonists, the beating of wings, feathers blowing in the wind, etc. But beyond the music's more literal elements, the work is designed to express an abstract state of mind, a sense of unease, and anticipation of what is yet to come. —Graham Gordon Ramsay2(2) 1,1 2 2; 2221; 7perc, hp, cel; stgs Duration: 24'Composed: 2023 Published by: Distributed Composer Jacob vs Angel was composed originally as a solo concert organ work in 2007; the orchestral version was completed in 2023. A live performance of the organ version can be seen at. Performance materials available on rental:.

SKU: SU.94010400

2,1 2,1 2,1 2,1; 4331; timp, perc(3), cel, hp; stgs Duration: 11' Composed: 2013 Published by: Subito Music Publishing Performance materials available on rental: Alas! Babylon’s Final Sunset is another installment in my series of works that musically comment on the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation. The principal source of inspiration for this works comes from the 18th chapter of the book of Revelation. This chapter states that the career of Babylon the Great is finally coming to an end. The music begins with a mysterious pianissimo tremolo accompanied by tam-tam and bass drum. The initial flourishes in the oboes and English horn serve as the principal motive of warning. As the music continues, there are varying degrees of agitation among the strings and woodwinds. Throughout the work there are rhythmic motives in the brass, percussion, and various woodwind instruments that sing and speak Babylon is Fallen in triple meter. As the tutti ensemble arrives at a climax, the orchestral texture becomes thinner and slightly transparent. As the music continues, the opening motive returns in the oboes, however the counterpoint produces a series of solo laments. These passages are intended to provide picturesque images of these words: And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee. and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Rev. 18:22-24 The following passages musically comment on the historical career of Babylon with a sense of her impending destruction. The series of laments transforms into the more emphatic rhythmic motive Babylon is Fallen. The orchestral texture begins to become more condense, once again, with the initial flourishes of, but with notable variations. Finally, the celesta, harp, oboes, English horn, and strings sing profundities that are finally transformed into a minor mode tonality that fades away with the ringing of the tam-tam. Babylon has finally seen her last sunset.