As We Gasp Towards the Infinite West

December 2012

In his Hymn of the Universe, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin refers to us as, “the whole vast anonymous army of living humanity… [who,] through their vision of truth or despite their error, truly believe in the progress of earthly reality, and who today will take up again their impassioned pursuit of the light.” Of us, he states, “This restless multitude, confused or orderly, the immensity of which terrifies us; this ocean of humanity whose slow, monotonous wave-flows trouble the hearts even of those whose flame is most firm.”

This piece is primarily occupied with the notion that the dynamics of what we call humanity are a combination of innumerous dynamic forces, all independent and working in opposition, which, in turn, creates something altogether distinctive. This creation (humanity), having an existence of its own, is experienced by all living creatures in an individualistic way; feeding their reality, it then becomes a driving force of each individual’s impulse, again, becoming something altogether different, in a cyclic manner.

Three Movements with Interlude, 20′ 00″

View Score: As We Gasp Towards the Infinite West

Instrumentation:

trumpet in C

horn in F

violin

violoncello

piano

electronics (used on the interlude)

View Score: As We Gasp Towards the Infinite West