Prelude to Paradise

Jacob Remington

General Info

Year: 2011
Duration: 00:09:00
Difficulty: Advanced
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Cost: $60.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone & Crotales
Player 3: Chimes
Player 4: Vibraphone
Player 5: Vibraphone
Player 6: Marimba
Player 7: Marimba
Player 8: Marimba
Player 9: Marimba
Player 10: Timpani
Player 11: Kick Drum & Ribbon Crasher & China Cymbal & Gong
Player 12: Snare Drum & 3 Concert Tom-toms & Hi Hat
Player 13: Gong & Concert Bass Drum & Triangle & Suspended Cymbal & Sizzle Cymbal & China Cymbal & Chains

Program Notes

Prelude to Paradise was written to reflect Jacob Remington's personal view of the chaotic events surrounding the end of days as they are depicted in the Book of Revelation. Jacob Remington has always found the vivid imagery in this story to be quite shocking and powerful, and he has strived to replicate those feelings through the music. Although the piece is not intended to chronicle the story, some important events and details of the book can be heard musically.

The number seven is one of the most significant numbers found in Revelation, and for that reason the piece is primarily metered in seven. There are numerous accounts in the book where “the stars of heaven fall unto the earth,” and this is illustrated by densely harmonized, rapidly descending passages in the vibraphone and xylophone. Towards the middle of the piece, the symbolic opening of the seventh seal can be heard, as well as the subsequent “silence in heaven about the space of half an hour,” represented by 30 beats of (near) silence. The second half of the piece depicts Jesus marching onto mount Zion with the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth, where he leads them into battle with the beast and onto their final judgments.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Collide - Percussion Ensemble (17)
Norrskens Dans - Percussion Ensemble (18)
Prelude to Paradise - Percussion Ensemble (13)
Rhapsody for Solo Marimba (Remington) - Marimba
Tango Passacaglia - Percussion Duo - Marimba Duo
Thy Kingdom Come - Percussion Ensemble (13)
Toccata for Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Ensemble (12)