Premiered in Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall, Santa Barbara, California, May 2022.
I embarked on creating this piece following the composition of another work called 'Apollo.' Apollo and Dionysus, both figures from ancient Greek mythology, represent somewhat contrasting qualities. Apollo, the embodiment of grace and beauty, stands in stark contrast to Dionysus, who personifies madness and religious ecstasy. While I didn't aim to directly mirror Dionysus, I crafted a musical composition intentionally devoid of polyphony, emphasizing textures and gestures instead. This choice aligned with the essence of Dionysus, as it allowed the qualities of religious ecstasy and madness to be conveyed through rich textures and dynamic movements, in contrast to the intricacies and logical structures typically found in polyphonic music.