Glimpse of Elysium

Elysium—the fabled eternal resting place of Greek demigods and heroes—is here represented by a lush, epicurean setting for string orchestra.

Program Notes

Elysium—the fabled eternal resting place of Greek demigods and heroes—is here represented by a lush, epicurean setting for string orchestra. The opening section features a martial-like pizzicato in the basses that accompany a sustained and expressive melody in the cellos, with muted tremolos in the violins and violas adding ethereal embellishments—all representing a slow revealing of the felicitous realm. The work builds to a stentorian climax as Elysium is fully, yet briefly revealed, with trills and scalar passages in the violins and horn-like calls in the violas and cellos adding fanfare. As the view of Elysium dissipates, the piece comes to a quiet, gentle close.

Grade Level: 3.5
Copyright: 2014
Number of Players: 8-8-5-5-5
Duration: 3:15

Listen to Recordings

Sample PDF

Instrumentation

Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass