On Monday, April 8th 2024 we here in Winnipeg will witness a partial solar eclipse. The eclipse will start at 12:54CST with the eclipse being at its maximum 2:01pmCST.
In some ancient traditions, eclipses meant that the sun was being eaten by a dragon; as in ancient Chinese myths. In Norse mythology the sun was being eaten by two wolves known as Skoll and Hati. The solution it seems, in both cultures was to make a lot of noise, such as hooting and hollering and using drums to scare away the dragon or wolves. Thankfully this technique seemed to work every time for both the Chinese and the Norsemen.
For other cultures, such as the Incas, an eclipse meant that the gods were unhappy with the people. An eclipse was the god’s way of showing wrath or displeasure. The solution for the Incas was to repent and provide sacrifices to the gods, including human sacrifice.
As we turn our heads upward today and look at the majesty of the moon passing between the sun and our beautiful blue marble… let’s rejoice in the sun and hear compositions that depict sunrises and the warmth and beauty that our star creates.
Monday April 8: Haydn Sunrise Quartet, String Quartet no 63: Op.76 no4
Written between 1797 and 1798 Haydn “Erdody” quartets were written for the Hungarian count Joseph George von Erdody.
The nickname of “The Sunrise” comes from the main theme that the first violin plays right at the beginning of the quartet.
The theme is heard over long sustained chords in the other parts. Haydn in this way, creates a musical sunrise. The main theme is very often refers do as the “Sunrise” motif.
Tuesday April 9: Ravel Part III of Daphnis et Chloé
Ravel wrote his Ballet masterpiece in 1912 for the ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballet Russes. It is a triumph of lush, impressionistic orchestration.
The music depicts the pastoral bliss of the country, where nymphs, shepherds, and gods such as Pan and Syrinx exist.
Part three of Daphnis et Chloé has a extraordinarily real depiction of the sun rising. Quiet rustling of the morning is depicted in the woodwinds, with off stage wordless chorus adding to the early morning mood. A bird is heard greeting the morning, played by the flute. As the sun rises the music gets louder and louder until we finally bask in the glow and warmth of the sun that is so magnificently depicted by Ravel’s orchestration.
This is the moment in the ballet where the goatherd Daphnis awakes from his sleep to discover that his beloved Chloe has been rescued from the pirates with the help of the god Pan. Once everyone realizes Chloe is safe, Ravel ends the ballet with a joyous bacchanal, where everyone celebrates and rejoices in the pastoral bliss of their surroundings.
Wednesday, April 10: Delius Florida Suite
Written in 1887 in Leipzig, Delius’ Florida Suite is a musical depiction of the orange plantation he managed outside of Jacksonville, Florida in 1884.
The first movement of the Florida Suite is titled Daybreak-Dance. Delius starts the work out quietly, over the rustling of strings. A solo oboe creates a dialogue with horns; the oboe playing the tune, while the horns respond with simple chords. Flutes and clarinets depict the birds; Delius all the while portraying the beautiful stasis of a morning. As the sun rises, the counterpoint between the woodwinds and the strings becomes more and more intricate….the sun announcing its final arrival with the roll of a timpani to create a perfect climax in the music.
In the Dance portion of the Daybreak-Dance, Delius makes use of the tune La Clainda. He would also use this tune in his opera Koanga. The overall effect in the Florida Suite is a musical representation of the citizens of Florida greeting the morning and looking forward to another warm sunny day.
Thursday, April 11: Ola Gjielo Sunrise Mass
This rich and gorgeous mass for choir and orchestra by the Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo was commissioned in 2007 by Tore Erik Mohn for performance by two combined choruses, Majorstua Kammerkor and Kammerkoret Nova, and was premiered on November 2, 2008.
The mass is less a literal depiction of a sunrise, but more a metaphorical journey from starry heaven to earth…from undifferentiated darkness to solid, warm life and the evolving spirituality we have as humans.
As Gjeilo states:
“The music of the Sunrise Mass goes from dark and dreamlike, to more emotional and dramatic, and eventually warm and grounded. It’s important to me that there is a positive evolution in artistic expressions, to move everything forward. That it has the capacity to help bring us deeper into ourselves rather than the other way. I really do think that's the main point of art. I don't know if I in any way am one of them, but I think true artists have the ability to share something very important; to express a deeper connection with something sacred; soul, or God, or nature, or whatever we perceive it as, through art. And I always believed that gift should be used to uplift and remind ourselves of who we really are and what’s truly important in our lives, whatever that may be.”
The sunrise Mass is in four stunningly beautiful sections:
- The Spheres—Kyrie
- Sunrise---Gloria
- The City---Credo
- Identity----Sanctus
This may not be a literal depiction of a sunrise, but it is the absolute perfect music to accompany one.
Friday April 12: Strauss An Alpine Symphony
Written in 1915, Strauss’ Alpine Symphony is a musical depiction of a mountain climber, ascending and descending a mountain during one day; from daybreak to just before dawn
The work calls for a massive orchestra consisting of large wind and strings sections, and huge percussion section including wind and thunder machines. The work also makes use of a brass contingent that is played off stage. That contingent being made up of 12 horns, two trumpets, and two trombones, in addition to the large brass section that is already on stage.
It is with these mighty forces that Strauss perfectly depicts all things nature. He depicts the beauty of the alpine pastures, the cows in the fields, (depicted by cow bells) the icy glaciers, and the awe inspiring majesty of the summit. On the decent the listener can perfectly envision the climber working his way down the mountain through a terrible storm. (Depicted by plucked strings and the thunder and wind machines) As the storm passes, we hear the sun poking through the clouds and the calm relief that the storm has passed, and the climber is safe. The tone poem ends with a gorgeous depiction of dawn and the sun sinking over the horizon.
When it comes to the musical sunrise at the begining of the Tone Poem, Strauss starts things out with the low rumbling of basses and low brass, and bassoons. Horns and woodwinds announce the emergence of the sun with a two note motif. Trumpets join in, and it is not long before Strauss brings the music to a climax and we feel the glow of the sun in all it’s, majesty.
End the week right. Climb a musical mountain and exult in glory of the sun and nature in general through Strauss’s glorious music.