Ceremonial Burning

Ceremonial Burning
Type
Piece
Composer
Nilo Alcala
Composer Nationality
Filipino-American
Composer Date of Birth
1978
Pages
11
Minutes
4
Difficulty
4 (Auditioned chorus)
Language
English
Voicing
Mixed chorus
Divisi
No
Instruments
Percussion
Extended Techniques
Yes
Sacred or Secular
Secular
Mood
Tense, with some edge; Dramatic, with dynamic contrasts
Description

This evocative and ritualistic piece is inspired by Wendell Berry’s poem Autumn Burning. The droning harmonies and eerie melodic lines transport both singers and audience to a completely different frame of mind, transforming a concert hall into a mysterious space of possibility.

Audio Credit
Recorded by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Mark Anthony Carpio - Conductor