How Vast
on a text by Christiaan Huygens from Cosmotheoros: Or, Conjectures Concerning the Inhabitants of the Planets for solo tenor and mixed ensemble (2022)
TRANSPOSED SCORE
Gala Flagello PERUSAL
PERUSAL
Gala Flagello
How Vast
for solo tenor and ensemble (2022)
Program Note
Text
How Vast (2022) was commissioned by the Virginia Tech Department of Music and sets a quotation from Cosmotheoros: Or, Conjectures Concerning the Inhabitants of the Planets by 17th-century mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor Christiaan Huygens. I was struck by how relatable and timely such an early and scienti c tome is to us today in its pondering of humans’ in uence on the earth and each other. Huygens implores the reader—and now listener—to re ect on why we harm one another for short-sighted and sel sh reasons when our planet is such a tiny part of the entire vast and wondrous universe. roughout the piece, the tenor conveys Huygens’ contemplation while the ensemble evokes Huygens’ invention of the pendulum clock and study of elastic collision through steady and misaligned rhythmic motives. ank you to Derek Shapiro and Brian orsett for their feedback during the writing of this work, and to the Virginia Tech Department of Music for their dedication to bringing new music to life.
How vast those Orbs must be, and how inconsiderable this Earth, the eatre upon which all our mighty Designs, all our Navigations, and all our Wars are transacted, is when compared to them. A very t consideration, and matter of Re ection, for those Kings and Princes who sacri ce the Lives of so many People, only to atter their Ambition in being Masters of some pitiful corner of this small Spot.
PERUSAL
—Christiaan Huygens
—Gala Flagello 2022
Program Note
Solo Tenor
Flute
Clarinet in Bb
Percussion (1 player)
Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Marimba (4.3-octave), Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal
Piano
Violin
Cello
PERUSAL
Music Copyright © 2022 Gala Flagello (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Program Note © 2022 Gala Flagello. All Rights Reserved. For more information, visit www.gala agello.com
Published by Just a eory Press, LLC. For more information, visit www.justatheorypress.com
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