The Birth of the Eternal for String Orchestra, Piano and Percussion

Abstract

The Birth of the Eternal is a one-movement composition for string orchestra, piano and percussion. It is written as a centennial commemoration of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and honors the memory of the victims of the Genocide. The piece symbolizes rebirth and revival and accentuates the power of belief. The main aspects that contribute to the realization of the idea of the piece are its instrumentation, form, harmonic language and texture. In the piece, instrumental timbres play specific roles in regard to the message of remembering. The chimes, representing church bells, symbolize the undying memory of the martyrs of the Genocide. The static nature and the stretched sounds of the string section aim to create a feeling of the eternal and work in combination with the chimes. The piano serves as a narrator and through this part I express my own feelings and look to the past. The vibraphone aims to create a feeling of spiritual awakening in combination with the strings. It also supports the narrative function of the piano. The piece has a sectional, sequential structure that is similar to liturgy. The absence of contrasts and dramatic conflict is explained by the spiritual nature of the composition. The musical language is tonal and is based mostly on minor keys. A major key is established for the first time only at the very end of the piece, thus highlighting its main concept – moving through darkness to light. The texture is mostly light, transparent and ethereal, in accordance with the main message of the composition.