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Two Invocations (1988) |
trombone and organ - 10'
When I am choosing to partner the organ in a duo combination, I prefer those that are able to produce an equally wide-range of colour and sound so that the organ need not limit its dynamic range. Therefore I wrote Okna (Chagall Windows) for trumpet and organ, and Landscapes of Patmos for organ and percussion. The trombone is perfect in that it is able to produce a soft, delicate pianissimo as well as a strong and piercing fortissimo.
I wrote the Two Invocations in 1988 for a festival in New Prague, USA, where in St. Wenceslas' Church it is still possible to find some Czech chorales sung in their original language. I have taken the baroque version of this most well-known anthem, the St Wenceslas Chorale - as the main theme for this set of variations. It was sung throughout the Middle Ages during the coronation of our Czech kings and has continued to accompany the nation through to the present day, where it is still sung in all our churches.
Furthermore, this work gave me the opportunity to write a piece in which the regal majesty of the trombone's sonority is combined to invoke our heartfelt devotions and prayers. This is seen particularly in the variations of the first movement, where the melody retains its diatonic form. The historical character of this chorale has also inspired me to express the dramatic and tragic moments in our history and our celebration in the long-awaited victory of our freedom. This is evident in the second movement where the theme appears in a chromatic form.
© Petr Eben