To a Secret Forest Place (2012)

Premiered by Charles River Wind Ensemble on May 15, 2016 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Library and Museum, Lexington, MA. 

The inspiration for Circles Circling comes from my longstanding interest in the music of tenth-century German abbess Hildegard von Bingen. Hildegard’s flowing sense of line and distinctive motivic material are ideal foundations for the texture and atmosphere I want to create in this piece. O Virtus Sapientie, an antiphon on the virtue of wisdom, provides both the conceptual, melodic, and harmonic foundation for the undulating, swirling rhythmic figures central to the form and sound of the piece. Its dominant image is of circles and wings moving between and around heaven and earth, and the text setting of these key phrases is built of repeated dyads. Such motives facilitate a sound world churning with energy and activity that can both enliven prolonged harmonic and melodic ideas and propel them into new musical territory. 

To provide contrast on both conceptual and musical dimensions, I am also using the Sed Diabolus, which describes the Devil mocking and seeking to disrupt creation. This shorter antiphon makes greater use of Hildegard’s signature rising and falling fifth motives and has a heavier, darker sensibility in keeping with its text. 

My concept for Circles Circling will create an immersive sonic experience illustrative of the physical and metaphysical actions in the text of both antiphons. Textural activity and timbral diversity will illustrate the immense creative energy of Hildegard herself, whose body of work touched on nearly every subject studied in the medieval world, as well as the intensity and vivid clarity of the mystical visions which directed her life. 

I will use material from these two antiphons to build contrasting textures and melodic treatments that will be juxtaposed and combined throughout a ten-minute, three-movement piece. The first movement rests on a background of swirling, undulating yet rhythmically energetic and diverse figures. Over this rippling sonic foundation, a contrasted melody in long durations will emerge and eventually dominate. 

Circles Circling, Mvmt. 1

Inquiries, Commission Information: tonyawindsinger@gmail.com

O'otham American Indian/Mexican Composer, Conductor, Arranger, Keyboardist, Flautist, and Percussionist. Uploads are compositions & performances.

To a Secret Forest Place (2012)

Tonya Wind Singer

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