COMPOSER : Peter Bray

Theosis

Introduction

Musically this piece is based on a number of old English folk tunes and its overall musical form is in a loose sonata form crossed with air variation, incorporating traditional British military band styles within each “variation” as it were.

In terms of registrations, I have been fairly loose with them in terms of overall expression, but rather more specific in terms of timbre at certain points in the music. Hopefully specific enough to give the organist an idea of what I am after musically whilst vague enough to leave scope for creativity. The piece of music a journey of the repeating cycle of human history; war and peace, frustration and progression, depravity and purity, sadness and happiness, likewise with an ever bright look to future

The music is written from the perspective of someone describing their present, regardless of the point in time, looking back almost with “rose tinted glasses”, frustrated at what appears to be the fall of their own civilisation. What follows is a journey through the ills and joys of human civilisation – our journey through life. In Orthodox theological terms as theosis – hence the title.

Exposition

The first thematic idea of the exposition, and arguably the main motif of the whole piece of music, could be described as a haunting melody, written in the mixolydian mode. The melody doesn’t venture too far from the tonic. Nonetheless the theme is passed around various different voices as they try to make sense of their world and situation.

The second thematic idea is very much a nostalgic look back to what we may perceive as better times, or one could interpret it as the juxtaposition of life - taking the rough with the smooth. It is bright and joyous, quite a nice foot-tapper of a tune. Quite dance-like in its style.

Development

This section could be described more of a variation than pure development like what would you would have in a classical sonata form. The main thematic idea goes through various dark transitions, perhaps sonically describing the different human emotions and events as the world around us appears to be falling apart, as we must all go into the depths of despair and suffering.

Even when the second thematic idea returns, rather than being bright as it was in the exposition, it takes on a darker tone. Starting in the Dorian mode in D major and then gradually moving to the E minor. Towards the end of the development, things start looking brighter again.

Recapitulation

The final section of this piece starts the return of the main thematic idea reharmonised from the mixolydian mode into the relative major, in addition to a lift in the dynamics and tempo. Thereby giving a brighter feel to the music. As each theme reappears or repeats, the music modulates up a tone, up Jacobs ladder as we raise ourselves to the heavens. A section of joy and hope for a brighter future and, if we play our cards right, perfect union with Christ.