PERUSALSCORE
Shadowsof the RestlessSoul
concertoforhornandheavymetalband
EvanZegiel
2023-24
PERUSALSCORE
Shadowsof the RestlessSoul
concertoforhornandheavymetalband
a PERUSALSCORE
EvanZegiel
2023-24
ProgramNote
“Whenyouariseinthemorning,thinkofwhataprivilegeitistobealive,tothink,toenjoy,tolove.”
-MarcusAurelius,Meditations
DearPerformer(s),
Todate, ShadowsoftheRestlessSoul maybeoneof mymostpersonalworks. I’d liketogiveaprofoundlyheartfelt“thankyou” toDr. Selena Boydaforcommissioning thisconcertoand forbeingawonderfulcollaborator.
Mental illnessesarenotuncommon.Theyarenot“madeup” bythosesuffering fromthem.Theyarenota“grasping forattention” froman otherwisehealthyperson.Theyarereal, theyarechronicformanyof us,and theypresentdiscretechallengestoeverydayliving. It’stimethat modernsocietyrecognized thesetruths, justasancient(and morerecent)societiesoftendid.
“Melancholy,”atermthatdatesbacktotheFourTemperamentsof theGreekphilosophers, hasbeenconnected inmodernpsychiatrytowhatis nowknownas“depression.”Theyareoneand thesame.TheRomanticeraof Westernliteratureisaperfectexample:someauthorswerelabeled as“melancholics.”Thinkof thefamousworksbyLord Byron, MaryShelley, JohnKeats,andWilliamBlake, tonameafewexamples. Itiswith thismelancholicspiritthatShadowsof theRestlessSoulwascreated.
Thefirstmovementof theconcerto, “EternalVoid,”aimstocapturethevisceralgripof depressiononone’spsyche. Manypeopleknowof the commondepressivesymptomsof sleeping toomuch,eating toolittle,chronicfatigue,andsoon. However, irritability,angryoutbursts, hyperactivity,andsimilarbehaviorscanalsobesymptomsof adepressiveepisodeortypeof depression. “EternalVoid”captureselementsof both,occasionallyblending thetwoincomplexorcompetingways.Thehornsoloneverquiteseemstorepeatamotiveormelody. Itforms strange,off-kilterharmonieswiththealreadydissonantguitarparts,constantlyreaching foraresolutionwhichseemsalwaystoevadeit.
In“BurningTwilight,”wehearthesymptomaticopposite(dependingontheperson) todepression:anxiety. Specifically, thismovementreflects oninsomnia,acommonsymptomformanywhomanageanxietydisorders.Themusicisquick,withapulsingrhythmwhichsymbolizesthe relentlesschurningof themind’sgearswhilelyingrestlessinbed. Onecanalsohearmomentsof triumphthroughout.Thosearetherare momentswhentheinsomniacgivesuponsleepingandcreatestheirnextgreatartwork.
Finally, “ShadowsUnbound” tiestheseconceptstogetherandenvisionsbreaking theirholdononeself. Managingdepressionandanxietyisa complextask,oftenrequiring frequentself-vigilanceand immenseefforttofunctionineverydaysociety. However, italsobringsoneasenseof confidenceandprideforbearingaburdenwhichthemajorityof societydoesn’t. Mental illnessbringswisdomandclarity; itholdsamirrorupto all thepartsof oneself.Themusicof “ShadowsUnbound”reflectsthisjourney,endingonacontemplativenotewhichrepresentsone’sultimate transcendenceandself-actualization.
Itismyhopethatthisworkshedslightontheemotionalrealityof livingwithdepressionandanxiety.Themoreunderstandingwehaveabout theseissuesinoursocieties, thebetterwewill beabletoworktogetheranddismantlestigmas.
Sincerely, Evan
Zegiel
Instrumentation
Horn(F)
HeavyMetal Band* (Lead Guitar, RhythmGuitar1-2, CleanGuitar,AcousticGuitar, BassGuitar, Harp, Synth, Drums)
*Abackingtrackcoveringtheheavymetalbandpartsisavailablefromthepublisher;theworkistypicallyperformedinasoloinstrument&tape configuration.
PERUSALSCORE
Duration: 15’50”
Firstprintingof thisedition, November2024
Copyright© 2024 EvanZegiel (ASCAP).All RightsReserved. Published byJustaTheoryPress|www.justatheorypress.com
forDr.SelenaBoyda
ShadowsoftheRestlessSoul
concertoforhornandheavymetalband
EvanZegiel b.1994 for
HorninF
LeadGuitar
RhythmGuitar1
RhythmGuitar2
CleanGuitar
BassGuitar
Drums