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The
first movement entitled The Vision of St. John describes what the
apostle John saw and was told to write while he was in exile on the
island of Patmos. The first chapter of the book of Revelation inspires
the opening theme. It opens quite mysteriously with distant pianissimo
trumpet calls echoed by muted horns. The intensity of the harmonies and
orchestration builds to a fortissimo outburst of emotion in an effort to
paint a picture of the Son of Man. The apostle john unable to understand
or even endure what he saw, "...I fell at His feet as dead. And
He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first
and the last." The motive for the Son of Man creates a complete
change of mood from one of fear to one of caring, tenderness, and love.
John is commanded to "....write the things, which thou has seen,
and the things, which are, and the things, which shall be.... "and"
... send it to the seven churches in Asia." The message to the
churches is primarily one of commendation and exhortation. The music at
this point moves to a lively Allegro with outburst of anger depicting
the exhortations, but turns to a beautiful Larghetto ushered in by a
flute solo. The movement ends with full brass alternating with various
treatments of the main theme.
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