International Double Reed Society
50 for 50
Commissioning Grant-winner, 2022
50 for 50
Commissioning Grant-winner, 2022
Until the completion of Seville Cathedral in the early C16, Hagia Sophia was the world's largest church. Built by the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century AD, it was the centre of Orthodox worship for the Byzantine, eastern Roman Empire until it fell to the Ottoman Empire in the 1400s.
Like Troparion, Byzantion I - Hagia Sophia is based upon Greek Orthodox chant: this time, a Prokeimenon from a C12 manuscript from Patmos. Like Rievaulx - which features Gregorian chant at the beginning of the piece - it is also a piece about an iconic church building which testifies to the past, even though its function differs today. Hagia Sophia has two principal sources of inspiration: the Icons of Sound virtual acoustic joint project between Stanford University and the choir Cappella Romana; and W.B. Yeats' poem Sailing to Byzantium (from The Tower [1928]). |
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Byzantion I - Hagia Sophia (2022) for Cor anglais*, Bassoon** & Piano Duration 5'20" To purchase the score, please send a message via the Contact Page "As in the gold mosaic of a wall..." |
*or Tenor Saxophone or Viola; **or Baritone Saxophone or Cello
Mixing and matching single and double reeds and/or strings is permitted.
Mixing and matching single and double reeds and/or strings is permitted.
Performance History
World Premiere
51st IDRS Conference
Thursday 28 July 2022 - University of Colorado Boulder
with Kathleen Carter Bell, English Horn; Conor Bell, Bassoon; Stephen Innis, Piano
51st IDRS Conference
Thursday 28 July 2022 - University of Colorado Boulder
with Kathleen Carter Bell, English Horn; Conor Bell, Bassoon; Stephen Innis, Piano
Second Performance
Saturday 18 February 2023 - Faculty Recital, Performing Arts Centre,
Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Kathleen Carter Bell, English Horn; Conor Bell, Bassoon; & Tiantian Liang, Piano
Saturday 18 February 2023 - Faculty Recital, Performing Arts Centre,
Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Kathleen Carter Bell, English Horn; Conor Bell, Bassoon; & Tiantian Liang, Piano
Third Performance
Saturday 1 April 2023 - Honors Recital, The Recital Hall, Voxman Music Building,
The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Amelia Johnson, English Horn; Sara Remoy, Bassoon; Mariya Akhadjanova, Piano
Watch on YouTube
British Premiere
Thursday 29 June 2023
Trinity Laban Black Culture 365 Composer Feature Concert #2
St. Alfege Church, Greenwich, London SE10
Jessica Berry, Tenor Sax; Louis Suc, Baritone Sax; Leo Nicholson, Piano
Fifth Performance
Sunday 24 September 2023 at 1600 EDT
Sara Fruehe, Bassoon & members of the Off-Broadway Trio (English Horn & Piano)
Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, Georgia, USA
LIVESTREAM
Saturday 1 April 2023 - Honors Recital, The Recital Hall, Voxman Music Building,
The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Amelia Johnson, English Horn; Sara Remoy, Bassoon; Mariya Akhadjanova, Piano
Watch on YouTube
British Premiere
Thursday 29 June 2023
Trinity Laban Black Culture 365 Composer Feature Concert #2
St. Alfege Church, Greenwich, London SE10
Jessica Berry, Tenor Sax; Louis Suc, Baritone Sax; Leo Nicholson, Piano
Fifth Performance
Sunday 24 September 2023 at 1600 EDT
Sara Fruehe, Bassoon & members of the Off-Broadway Trio (English Horn & Piano)
Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, Georgia, USA
LIVESTREAM