Date 2022/Apr/22
Performer(s)
Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa, Osvaldo Ferreira (conductor)
Organization/Event 15th International Spring Music Festival in Viseu
Venue Escola Secundária Emídio Navarro
Town Viseu
Country Portugal
The
7 Trumpets and the New Jerusalem is the result of a joint commission made by the
Viseu International Spring Music Festival and
Miso Music Portugal. This piece was written between December 2021 and March 2022 and draws inspiration from chapters 8, 9 and 21 of the book of Revelation where Seven angels blow seven trumpets announcing suffering and pain through seven plagues meant to punish humanity; however God expects the conversion of man and for this reason humanity is not destroyed.
Musically, the Trumpets are represented by the brass of the orchestra with small solos that transport us to this environment of pain reported in the text. The textures developed are of great harmonic and rhythmic complexity and of great sound mass.
The final part of the work represents hope, it’s the New Jerusalem as described in chapter 21, a holy city, great, beautiful and very rich reflecting Heaven and the glory of God.
The dense textures of the previous section give way to simpler, calmer textures with perfect harmonies, transporting us to a celestial dimension.
In the present moment of war-induced human pain and suffering, I dedicate this work to all the people who have lost their loved ones in this and in all the wars that man stubbornly continues to fight.
May peace come urgently.
José Carlos Sousa · Viseu, March 12th, 2022
