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As a child, I saw the Film “Exodus”. The scene that affected me the most was when the plague descended slowly from the skies like a dark green smoke, and a deathly scream rose up in the darkness and then subsided. The Angel of Death passed by the houses that were marked with lamb’s blood in order not to bring death but to grant the Hebrews redemption.
During the hopeless time of the Pandemic I sketched this piece in order to express our desperation, fear and helplessness. Yet we all dreamed of our hope that the Pandemic would pass by us and those dear to us so that we would be spared the release afforded by death until, one day, it comes to us.
This composition contains three main elements: the soundscapes with their ghostly motion that symbolize the power of the Angel of Death; a twelve-note row that starts with the famous BACH-motif and is used also in my piece “Arche” from the same group of compositions. This row acts as a central thread that weaves itself in different forms through the entire series.
In the centre of the piece we hear the chorale “An Wasserflüssen Babylon” employing the melody by Matthias Greiter (c.1495–1550) and its harmonization by Claude Goudimel (c.1520–1572). This chorale symbolizes the very deep sadness experienced by humans, who despite everything escape the shadow of death through their belief.
Ming Wang
Vienna, March 2024
Translation: Michael Talbot
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Music example
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