C Trumpet; Cello; Choral;
Harp; Piano Accompaniment
(Score)
SKU:
HL.48025186
For 2
Trumpets in C,
Percussion, Harp, Cello,
and Piano Accompani.
Composed by James
Macmillan. Boosey &
Hawkes Scores/Books.
Classical, General
Worship, Sacred.
Softcover. 80 pages.
Duration 2160 seconds.
Boosey & Hawkes
#M060135996. Published by
Boosey & Hawkes
(HL.48025186).
ISBN
9781784545147. UPC:
196288116479.
9.0x12.0x0.28
inches.
A setting
of passages from the Book
of Revelation, with
particular reference to
the angels who appear
with seven trumpet
blasts, heralding a
series of apocalyptic
scenes. Commissioned by
Jeffrey Skidmore,
director of Ex Cathedra,
and first performed by
them at Birmingham Town
Hall in 2015. The
composer states,
“There is a
vividness and strangeness
in these dramatic texts,
which are endlessly
fascinating and
disturbing. The
instruments used here are
based on the various
instrumental types
mentioned throughout
scripture - trumpets,
harp, bells, cymbals,
tabor, rebec.â€
These are scored for
mostly in their modern
forms, but shofars
(Jewish ritual temple
trumpets) and early
trumpets are also used.
The choral writing shows
a similar contrast
between traditional and
contemporary scoring,
with polyphony and
homophony alongside
extended vocal
techniques, including
Sprechstimme. Leading
choral director Paul
Spicer comments,
“This is an
extremely dramatic work
which draws the listener
into the apocalyptic
story line...The ending
is
cataclysmic.â€.