Symphony: Vigil (1997) is the last of three interrelated works forming Triduum, commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, the other works being The Worlds Ransoming, for cor anglais and orchestra, and the Cello Concerto (both 1996). All three relate to the historical events and religious liturgies of the Easter Triduum, namely Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The symphonys first movement, Light, deals with the promise of a glimmer of light in the darkness. The central movement, Tuba insonet salutaris (Sound the trumpet of salvation), is based on the Exsultet melody sung at the Easter Vigil, described by Mozart as probably the most beautiful ever written. The final movement, Water, opens savagely but subsides towards the presentation of two conflicting principal materials a wild, ecstatic dance followed by a slower, more mysterious texture, leading to a climax and a luminous, floating close.

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Composer

James MacMillan

Instrument

Orchestra

Format

Study Score

Pages

172

ISBN

9781784542047

Stock code

M060132131

In-store pickup available. Please allow 2–5 business days. We’ll notify you when your order is ready to collect.