Sibil·la (Sybil) – Symphonic-choral poem based on the medieval liturgical drama “The song of the Sibyl”

This work is a recreation or paraphrase by the composer of the famous medieval theme, with no musicological intention of historiographical character with regard to the music and text.

Written in symmetrical triptych form alluding to Gothic altarpieces and consists of three parts of 77 bars each, corresponding to the Prophecy, Revelation and Redemption respectively. It follows the apocalyptic symbolism of the number 7 with regard to the choir interventions and some harmonic and melodic developments.

It also symbolically recreates different mystical-cultural environments through the music.  It initially describes a mythical pagan world which succumbs to a desperate orgy of sounds, to emerge from the equator of the piece (the diptych centre of the triptych) in a purification towards the Gregorian mode, becoming tonal, to culminate in a baroque choral sonority. This leads to a partial re-exposition, harmonically modified in the form of an immense plagal cadence, which symbolizes the ultimate redemption through the figure of Christ.

David Esterri