When Angels Sound Their Trumpets (2023)
Instrumentation: 3(3+pic.)/3(3=eh)/3(3+bcl)/3(3=cbn) 4/3/3/1 timp+3perc. hp. str.
Duration: 11 minutes
Program Note:
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament, written by John. The title of the book is derived from the first word of the text in Hellenistic Greek: apokalypsis. Chapters 8–11 are about the opening of the seventh seal of judgment, which leads to the sounding of seven trumpets by seven angels. Each trumpet call signals a series of apocalyptic events, and a detailed description of what happens is as follows:
1st trumpet: hail and fire mingled with blood are thrown to the earth.
2nd trumpet: “a great mountain burning with fire” plunges into the sea. Some suggest this might be a huge meteor or earthquake.
3rd trumpet: excessive bitterness and toxic qualities influence the world’s fresh water.
4th trumpet: loss of light leads to complete darkness for a third of the day, even in the night hours.
5th trumpet: Locusts with women’s hair, lions’ teeth, iron armor, and thunderously loud wings torment humans.
6th trumpet: four fallen angels and a demonic army (two hundred million troops) that kill mankind with smoke and fire from their mouths.
7th trumpet: A loud voice in heaven says, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever.”
In the music, trumpet calls have a distinctive motive [G-Ab-C-F#], and after each call, the music portrays disastrous events in order. To bring unity and clarity to the musical structure, some events are composed of the same motivic ideas; however, they developed distinctively in a way depicting each catastrophe. After the final trumpet call, I quoted “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” one of the best-known hymns, to conclude the music with a complete resolution. Because the hymn praises God as a powerful and reliable defender of His people and the music is about God’s wrath, there is a paradox at play here.
Premiere: UMKC Orchestra conducted by Carlos Pacheco | February 1 2024 | Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO |