Ænigmata, for high voices

Duration: 12:00 minutes

Instrumentation: 3-6 high voices, or SA choir

Premiere: April 17, 2016 by the Texas State Women's Choir, directed by Lynn Brinckmeyer at Texas State University Performing Arts Center

Notes:

     These canonic pieces were inspired by the the Latin riddles of Symphosius. These short three-line riddles are not only witty and playful poems, but their quotidian subjects, mirrors and echoes and wheels, all suggested musical puzzles. The six movements and their scoring are as follows:

1. Echo - SSAA -  a lively movement of echoes and hockets

Ænigmata - 1. Echo

2. speculum (mirror) - SSAA - several interlocking mirror, or inversion, canons

Ænigmata - 2. speculum

3. mola/mula (mill / mule) - SSAA - an ostinato suggesting both the constant movement of a water mill, and the obstinacy of a mule

Ænigmata - 3. mola/mula

4. clepsydra (water clock) - SSA - a prolation canon with three voices singing the same melody at different speeds

Ænigmata - 4. clepsydra

5. rotae (wheels) - SSSSAA - a series of rounds (called rotae in Latin)

Ænigmata - 5. rotae

6. somnus (sleep) - SSAA - a freely imitative movement, with a nod to Purcell

Ænigmata - 6. somnus