Duration: 9'
Commissioned by Athanasios Zervas
The title for this brief virtuosic work was inspired by a passage written by St. Paul to his disciple and co-worker, Timothy. In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle writes “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.” (2 Timothy 4: 3-4). For me, this passage perfectly describes the current state of our society. Finding “teachers” that suit our own likings in the media, American culture has polarized itself politically into two camps that seem to be drifting further and further away from any kind of common ground. The same is happening not only between camps of secular and faith-based groups, but within virtually any group or organization in our society. Increasingly we are becoming a balkanized culture unable to work together. Reflecting this state of heightened tension, the music has a nervous, edgy character throughout. Different opposing forces are polarized one against the other throughout the piece. Often these groups shift alliances and partners as we are all want to do in our dealings with one another. Buried within all the activity is a Byzantine hymn that appears mid-way through the composition and is incorporated thereafter. I chose this particular chant melody to try and find an anchor of truth and solace for myself amid the chaos of the piece and the society I find myself in. The hymn, Soson Kyrie is translated as “Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the Faith and protect Your people through Your Holy Cross.”