Program Notes
Tranquility at Last (2019) was written after the composer was asked to leave his church after coming out as gay, which caused the composer a great deal of anguish, confusion, and spiritual doubt. This piece is a testament to the reprieve that comes after any period of doubt, confusion, or anguish; for the composer, it refers to the acceptance and embrace of God’s unwavering love after an experience wherein the composer felt so weak and wary. It begins gently with a lingering melody accompanied by a contour of tonality peaking at a moment of tension and properly resolving in a plagal cadence, which is an allusion to the cadence often found in the liturgy of many Christian denominations and thus serve as a reminder of God. The theme continues to develop before transitioning into a three note descending line, reminiscent of the singing of “Alleluia” in a myriad of various hymns, again, so often found in the liturgy. A harmonic progression then leads the theme back to a repeated plagal voicing in the higher register while the lower voice extends from the theme into a contrapuntal line before a drawn out suspension at last resolving in a final plagal cadence.
Music
To procure a score of this piece, please contact Trevor Zavac.
Below is a recording as performed by Bethany Dame: