A dramatically intense, harmonically luxuriant Aequale for two B♭ Trumpets, two Tenor Trombones, and one F Tuba. The title, Italian for "in the manner of a spiritual madrigal", defies literal interpretation, as the approach to melody, harmony, counterpoint, voice-leading, structure et al manifests a language more modernist in its orientation than archaic or historicist. Particularly, as regards harmony, the extended harmonic palette of successive "post-triadic" chords, with dissonances delayed in resolution (if resolved at all), places this work firmly within the bounds of an Expressionist-type early modernism. Nevertheless, in the course of this concise tripartite monothematic-developmental form -- wherein exposition, development, and recapitulation emerge, then dissipate, in a flash -- a quasi-religious fervor or ecstasy predominates, one in which awe and holy terror at Sublime Eternity reifies through the silvery timbre of the ensemble, through the passionate phrases with which the work opens and closes, to (in the central development section) the tuba's thunderously imposing descending passagework.

If you enjoyed this, please consider becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/philipdaniel or https://www.subscribestar.com/philip-daniel