Symphony: ‘Vigil’ (1997) is the last of three interrelated works forming Triduum, commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, the other works being The World’s Ransoming, for cor anglais and orchestra, and the CelloConcerto (both 1996). All three relate to the historical events and religious liturgies of the Easter Triduum, namely Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The symphony’s first movement, ‘Light’, deals with thepromise of a glimmer of light in the darkness. The central movement, ‘Tuba insonet salutaris’ (Sound the trumpet of salvation), is based on the Exsultet melody sung at the Easter Vigil, described by Mozart as probably themostbeautiful ever written. The final movement, ‘Water’, opens savagely but subsides towards the presentation of two conflicting principal materials a wild, ecstatic dance followed by a slower, more mysterious texture, leadingto a climax and a luminous, floating close.
| Arrangement | Orchestra |
| Format | Study Score |
| NumberOfPages | 172 |
| Media | Sheet Music |
| Publisher | Boosey and Hawkes |
| Contributors | MacMillan, James(Composer) |
| ISBN | 9781784542047 |
| ISMN | 9790060132131 |