Commissioned for Philip Sawyer and first performed by him in August 2010 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Like MacMillan's Gaudeamus in loci paci (1998) this work has a trio texture and uses Gregorian chant as a basis. Meditation commences softly with the cantus firmus in the pedal, joined shortly after by a highly decorated figure in the left hand. The right hand joins a few bars later in imitation of the left but using a contrasting tone-colour.
The texture changes part-way through the piece as chordal motifs are introduced, and the cantus firmus moves to the manuals. In the final section a brighter manual figuration occurs, and the music gradually builds to fortissimo, dies down, and then precipitately rises to a full organ resolution.
Suitable for advanced standard players.
Anzahl Seiten: 12
