Eternity's Sunrise
composer: Steve Martland
for string orchestra
Premiere: February 6, 2008 Perth, Perth Concert Hall (UK) · Scottish Ensemble
Orchestra instrumentation: str(3.3.2.2.1 minimum)
Publisher: Schott Music Ltd., London
Duration: 15' 0''
Year of composition: 2007
Edition: performance material
Material on hire
Description
I wanted to write a companion piece for Tiger Dancing, which was written for the choreographer Henri Oguike and his company. Although Eternity's Sunrise was written for the concert hall rather than the theatre, dance is a pervasive feature of the music, the ensemble plays almost throughout in rhythmic unison. The opening burst sets the stage for what follows and makes a short final return as a coda. The work last about sixteen minutes.
Steve Martland.
The work has a powerful impact on both players and audiences, it's high-voltage music requireing real stamina from the performers. Audences at the premiere and subsequent tour loved it and the worlk would make marvellous dance music.
The title of this piece comes from lines by the visionary English poet William Blake:
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise.
Incidentally, this poem was on Stockhausen's desk for most of his working life, and his death occurred as Steve was writing the piece.
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