Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Excelsus (2002)
- Cadenza Music (World)
For Thomas Carroll
Programme Note
Excelsus takes the form of a suite, each movement being based on a passage from the Requiem mass text. Although I spent many hours refining my interpretation of the words, the work is ultimately a more instinctive reaction to the evocative language of the excerpts.
Musically the entire work is based on two themes, one melodic (the Rex Tremendae or ‘King of Awful Majesty’ theme, which is heard at the very opening) and one chordal (the Lux Aeternum (Light eternal) chords, not revealed in their pure form until the pizzicato passage that concludes the suite). The order of the movements is as follows:
Requiem Aeternum (Grant them eternal rest)
Kyrie (Lord, have mercy)
Tuba Mirum (Hark the Trumpet)
Sanctus (Holy, holy)
Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Quid Sum Miser (What shall I, a wretch, say then?)
© Cheryl Frances-Hoad, 2002
Musically the entire work is based on two themes, one melodic (the Rex Tremendae or ‘King of Awful Majesty’ theme, which is heard at the very opening) and one chordal (the Lux Aeternum (Light eternal) chords, not revealed in their pure form until the pizzicato passage that concludes the suite). The order of the movements is as follows:
Requiem Aeternum (Grant them eternal rest)
Kyrie (Lord, have mercy)
Tuba Mirum (Hark the Trumpet)
Sanctus (Holy, holy)
Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Quid Sum Miser (What shall I, a wretch, say then?)
© Cheryl Frances-Hoad, 2002