Скачать или смотреть "Exodus" for Double Quintet and Percussion, by Samuel Morton

This piece was performed at my senior recital on April 25, 2025.

Performing:
Emily Philbrook ‘25, flute
Connor Coleman ‘27, oboe
Vincent Giza ‘26, clarinet
Beck Kranz ‘28, bassoon
Matthias Baese ‘25, horn 1
Laura Maeda ‘25, horn 2
Lexi Cucchiaro ‘25, trumpet 1
Zac Carlson ‘25, trumpet 2
Will Kroner ‘27, trombone
Austin Larson ‘27, tuba
Alex McGohan ‘28, percussion 1
Sophia Carlson ‘28, percussion 2

Exodus for Double Quintet and Percussion sets the Biblical text of Exodus 13 through Exodus 19 to music, beginning when Pharaoh lets the Israelites go freely from Egypt to when Moses meets with God at the top of Mt. Sinai. The four movements of this piece capture major events during this portion of the book of Exodus as well as reflect the emotional toils and triumphs of the Isrealites during their journey towards the promised land. These succeeding program notes set the scene for each of the four movements.

I. Wall of Water [Exodus 13:17 - 14:31]
The Israelites began their journey to the promised land after much struggle in Egypt—ten plagues came upon the Egyptians before finally Pharaoh let Moses’ people go. Now free, most Israelites were hopeful, yet unsure of what was to come. As they camped at the Red Sea, they panicked as they realized the Egyptians had chased after them. Instructed by God, Moses raised his staff over the waters of the Red Sea. The water began to tremble, and the tide retracted. Suddenly, the water shot upward and the sea became split on the left and on the right of the Israelites as if walls of water. They hurried through the middle of the sea to escape their Egyptian enemy, marching on without delay. As the Egyptians entered the parted sea and continued their pursuit of Israel, the walls of water collapsed and fell onto them and they were washed away into the sea. As the waters fell behind the Israelites, they rushed out of the sea before they too were swallowed up. As they made their exit, the sea calmed and was still. Their God had delivered them and defeated their enemy.

II. The Desert [Exodus 15:1 - 16:35]
The Israelites erupted with a song of praise to the Lord their God for parting the Red Sea and delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians! In this piece, that is reflected as the hymn “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise The Strain”, originally written by eighth century Greek poet John of Damascus. The celebration did not last long, however, as the wandering nation soon found itself hungry and discontent. “We had it better in Egypt!” they proclaimed, wishing to again serve the Egyptians rather than die in the Desert of Sin. Yet, as they moaned and complained to one another and to God, their Lord provided for them by raining down manna from Heaven and covering their camp with quail. The Israelites ate this manna—bread from Heaven—each morning except the Sabbath, and celebrated greatly that the Lord again had favor on them. So, they remembered what the Lord did for them at the Red Sea and continued to march towards the promised land.

III. Rephidim [Exodus 17:8-16]
Heading out from the Desert of Sin, the Israelites reached Rephidim, where they now faced an even larger problem. The Israelites, wandering through foreign land, were under attack by the nearby nation of the Amalekites. A brutal battle broke out. Moses went on top of a hill and raised his staff before God. Whenever his staff was raised, the Israelites were winning the battle, and whenever his staff was lowered, the Israelites were losing. Growing weary, Moses needed help from two fellow Israelites to continue holding up the staff. Moses remembered what God had
done for his nation at the Red Sea and, in faith, refused to lower the staff. Therefore, the Israelites won the battle, and God completely erased the name of Amalek from under Heaven. The Israelites then headed out from Rephidim, leaving behind a lifeless valley of spilled blood.

IV. The Mountain [Exodus 19]
The Israelites next entered the Desert of Sinai, and camped at the base of the mountain there. The Lord spoke to Moses, and said that on the third day, the Lord himself would descend on the mountain. The Israelites waited in anticipation for their God to appear, each day looking up at the mountain, being intimidated by its majesty and magnitude. On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud over the mountain. The Lord then announced his presence with a trumpet blast which grew louder and louder, calling Moses to meet God at the top of the mountain. Moses then began his ascension up to the peak of Mt. Sinai. As he climbed, he did not delay—he was in awe of the awesome power of God and was reminded of all that the Lord had done for Israel. When he reached the summit, Moses met God face to face and received the laws and covenants that the Israelites are to follow as the Lord’s chosen possession. The piece ends here, with Moses in the awesome and perfect presence of the Lord.



Uploaded with permission from St. Olaf College.