Orchestra
SKU:
SU.94010400
For
Orchestra. Composed
by James Lee III.
Orchestra. Study Score.
Subito Music Corporation
#94010400. Published by
Subito Music Corporation
(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.
