ALMIGHTY (2020/2024)

Wind Ensemble | ca. 7' | grade 4

PROGRAM NOTE

During the early fall of my first year at the University of North Texas, incredible thunderstorms rolled across the skies. I was fascinated by their tremendous power, and their billowing clouds were reminiscent of towering cathedrals, possessing a divine, almost otherworldly aura. The majesty and powerful display of natural force of these storms inspired me to write something similar — something that could capture the same feelings of awe, fear and fascination. I thought of the title Almighty, which also happens to be an approximate translation of the Greek word — and name of one of the oldest Byzantine religious icons of Jesus Christ, found in Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, dating back to the 6th Century — "pantocrator."

Almighty draws inspiration from the "towering cathedrals" I had in mind as well as the Sinai Pantocrator, invoking imagery of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox religions — Gregorian-influenced melodies, pipe organ-like orchestration, and chimes simulating the sound of church bells. These ploys are electrified by the rumbling and sizzling sounds of a thunderstorm (played by percussion), distant at first, but gradually looming nearer until almost deafening.

Almighty was premiered on April 13th, 2022 by the University of North Texas Concert Band at Winspear Concert Hall in Denton, Texas, U.S.A., conducted by Amy Woody.