Cantata—Oracle of Edom: Isaiah 21

synthesized demo

Weber’s CANTATA on Isaiah 21:11-12 was composed in 1983 for conductor Landon Young and the Chorus of Santa Fe (New Mexico). Its four sections are based on the enigmatic biblical text “Watchman tell us of the night.” The music is textural and expressive at the same time, with elements of patterned minimalism and post-modern composition techniques, alongside aspects of medieval and early Renaissance polyphony. A central movement featuring two tenor soloists is lyrical and dynamic, and the final movement utilizes canonic techniques to build to a dramatic fortissimo ending.

DURATION: 12 minutes