Marian Sonata

The Marian Sonata (2005) is a musical polyptych of the Life of Christ.aa It was recorded by Vit Muzik and Lucie Kaucka for Navona Records (Navona 6227, In Tandem). Advent lenfant, utilizes the Advent antiphon, Alma Redemptoris Mater, it is melded with the French Carol, Il est ne le divin enfant, whose melodic idea is the basis for the celebratory opening of the piece. The two form a free fantasia of the two musical ideas. Lento Doloroso, reflects on the walk to the cross. The antiphon Ave Regina Caelorum merges with the hymn, O Sacred Head Now Wounded meditatively.a It appears as a condensed chordal form as well as laying out crucifixion motifs. The violin looks on these final moments.a The movement culminates with the dramatic pounding of the nails. aResurrectio, opens with deep rumblings in the piano representing the movement of the stone from the tomb. At some deeper level, I wrote these for descriptive intent and only later realized that the number of notes in the piano are good numbers in Christian theology: 7, 5, and 3. The violin outlines the antiphon, Regina Caeli. Excitement then follows running ascending figures sharing the news of the empty tomb.a The hymn, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, begins to appear enters into the fabric of the material. The alleluia becomes a sort of refrain as the movement progresses.aa Jubillatio Spiritu, celebrates the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the sending out into the world. A sense of uneasiness opens as we feel the Spirit blowing into the room. The antiphon Salve Regina and the hymn tune, Marion (Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng!) brings us to a close.