Meditations and Memories

“The first melody is reminiscent of the opening of The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, but my theme always functions as a mantra. The flutes then meditate on that tune. A transition follows that is evocative of the opening of Symphony No. 6 by Jean Sibelius. Another transition leads to a stretto, then again to a transition, and then to yet another stretto. Next comes the first memory theme. The memory theme is borrowed from my composition Fantasypiece (violoncello and bass) and the orchestral version of it, Fantasypiece for Orchestra. A meditation ensues followed by an ornate, baroque-like variation on the memory theme. The piece closes with a final meditation.” -Stanley M. Hoffman