Children of Chaos: Three Movements for Orchestra

Abstract

Two characters from The Chronicles of Chaos trilogy by John C. Wright inspire these three movements for orchestra, “Amelia,” “Colin,” and “Exit.” The characters in the story are not human and have different powers allowing them to manipulate their reality. The first movement, “Amelia,” is based on clever and adventurous Amelia Armstrong Windrose, a Phaethusian or radiant being, who can travel inter-dimensionally giving her the ability to travel quickly, lift heavy objects, and become invisible. This implies an enigmatic depth to her reality and her musical character sketch will use different orchestrations and texture shifts to illustrate this sense. Her movement explores different forms of musical depth including range, density, and timbral shifts based on a flowing melody used throughout the three movements. The next movement, “Colin” is based on boisterous and loyal Colin Ibilus mac Firbolg, Prince Phobetor the son of King Morpheus of the dream realm. Colin is the Prince of Nightmares and can manipulate reality with disbelief. In his movement, there is a war between high and low, bright and dark, consonant and dissonant, dream and reality. The structure of the piece begins with a glissandi motiv that lilts the music into a dream of sudden contrasts. The music rolls through rock motives, modal melodies, and remembrances of Amelia’s melody. Progressing through the dream the music starts to awaken in the last movement, “Exit,” with a return of the glissandi motiv. In this movement remembered textures and new ideas are brought together, cumulating in the last wave of Amelia’s thematic material and marching with fanfares to the end.