Three Images of Christ's Final Hours

From Program Notes

Sarah Wallin (b. 1980) completed this work for string orchestra, soprano saxophone, and piano in 2005. Three Images is a suite of three individual pieces that, when performed as a set, depict the Garden of Gethsemane (including Christ’s prayer, arrest, and trial), the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. The Images are as follows:

• I. A Garden Prayer for violin duo and piano.
• II. Bleeding Heart for soprano saxophone solo and string orchestra.
• III. Easter Victory for solo piano and string orchestra.

Images I and III were both initially conceived as separate works in 1998 as part of a college composition class (with Image III originally written for solo piano), but Wallin felt such a strong connection between the two pieces that she harbored thoughts of combining them, with another movement to come later, in one larger work. While brief sketches for the elusive second Image existed on paper for many years without fruition, the opportunity to bring Bleeding Heart into existence presented itself when the Cal Poly, Pomona String Ensemble was scheduled to record some works by the faculty in 2004, and the director of the group graciously invited Wallin to bring in one of her own pieces to be recorded. With Image II finally finished, she took another look at Easter Victory and re-worked it to include a string orchestra accompaniment, giving its opportunity for complex rhythmic activity much more potential. Since then Bleeding Heart has been performed once on its own as part of the Cal Poly String Ensemble's concert of women's compositions, and the entire work was also debuted by the same ensemble in 2006. --Sarah Wallin 01:36, April 5, 2007 (EDT)

[edit] External Links

• Audio Sample from Three Images of Christ's Final Hours