The Caliph - An Orchestral Suite

 

The Caliph is a four movement orchestral suite! This project began simple enough, but as I worked, it expanded! I began to listen carefully to what I had written, and, as I did, I saw visual images began to take place in my imagination. I realized that I wanted a larger pallet and so expanded, not the length, but the vision.

The visual that I have is a set from the Arabian Nights! An isolated palace beside an oasis in the desert. In the distance, a caravan approaches the palace. As the caravan approaches the gates to the palace courtyard, a fanfare announces its arrival. The gates swing open and a marvelous procession enters the courtyard. The tension builds as the procession nears the great hall of the palace. No one knows why this powerful ruler has chosen to come to this isolated spot. Everyone is wondering if this event presents a danger! The piece comes to a dramatic end just as the Caliph arrives at the main hall of the palace.

I used perfect intervals and a heavy percussion part to give the piece power and an "uncivilized" sound to match the power of the Caliph. The dramatic shape of the music is such that the climax is at the very end of the work. That leaves the door open for other movements to follow!