Composer

:

Tarik O'Regan

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Compose Date

:

2006

Average_duration

:

17:25

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

"The Ecstasies Above" is a choral work composed by Tarik O'Regan in 2011. It was premiered on May 7, 2011, by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Layton. The piece is divided into six movements, each of which is based on a different text. The first movement, "The Ecstasies Above," is based on a poem by Emily Dickinson. It is a lively and energetic piece, with the choir singing in unison and harmony. The second movement, "The Darkened Valley," is a slower and more contemplative piece, based on a text from the Book of Job. The choir sings in a more subdued manner, with a focus on the lower voices. The third movement, "Thee, God," is based on a poem by Walt Whitman. It is a joyful and celebratory piece, with the choir singing in a more exuberant manner. The fourth movement, "Veni, Sancte Spiritus," is a setting of the Latin hymn of the same name. It is a more traditional choral piece, with the choir singing in harmony and with a focus on the upper voices. The fifth movement, "Alleluia, Laus et Gloria," is a setting of a medieval hymn. It is a lively and rhythmic piece, with the choir singing in unison and harmony. The final movement, "The Threshold of Night," is based on a poem by Kathleen Raine. It is a slower and more contemplative piece, with the choir singing in a more subdued manner. Overall, "The Ecstasies Above" is a complex and varied choral work, with a range of moods and styles. O'Regan's use of different texts and musical techniques creates a rich and engaging listening experience. The piece is notable for its use of intricate harmonies and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of traditional choral techniques.

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