2004

Spell

for Violin and Two Cellos

“Spell” is a programmatic piece depicting sorcerers casting a spell in a forest by night. The piece is written in three movements that are played without pause. In the first movement (“Spell”), the casting of the spell starts in the violin and is echoed and expanded upon by the second cello. The second movement (“Pagan Dance”) builds out of the first into a raucous dance by the fire. The music’s energy continually increases until it is finally suspended at a high point. The spell is ending with the approach of dawn. In the final movement (“Embers”), the fire begins to die. Various motives and themes return in fragmentary form. The spell and the fire die out, as the magic fades from view.