The "Slava" Ensemble, March 27th, 2009: L to R-Michael Owcharuk, Nate Omdal, Kara Sawyer, Jason Parker, Cody Rahn, and me (not pictured but DEFINITELY present-Beth Fleenor).
mp3: "Shepherds and Angels" by Jim Knodle (Copyright 2009 by Jim Knodle, ASCAP)- 13 Mb.
Shepherds and Angels" is a
programmatic piece about the shepherds in the
mountains who were surrounded by angels singing "Hosanna" on the
night of
Jesus' birth, according to Christian belief. The scene is set by the four
wind instruments (shepherds)
singing to themselves as they watch their flocks. A repeated pair of
"pan-diatonic" chords from the piano, accompanied by the
contrabass, lets us
know that something strange is in the sky. The drums start the
"Hosanna"
section, which is intended to represent the joy of the angels and the terror
of the shepherds. Music that is exultant is sometimes frightening.