Postcards from the Sky - by Marjan Mozetich

Postcards from the Sky by Marjan Mozetich

Performed Sunday, November 19th, 2023 | First Christian Church

Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Audio/Video: Michael Lascuola
Program Notes: Marjan Mozetich

Postcards from the Sky by Marjan Mozetich are three short pieces commissioned through the assistance of the Canada Council, and premiered by the Thirteen Strings of Ottawa conducted by Paul Andreas Mahr in April, 1996. Since then these evocative works have become the composer’s most popular, performed and broadcast extensively. They first recorded on CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) Records with the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra. For further information, see:
www.mozetich.com or YouTube.


"Unfolding Sky" is the a gradual unfolding of the opening melodic theme and the rising bass arpeggio simultaneously being accompanied by a perpetual mobile pattern. The climax is akin to the burst of sunlight through the parting of clouds, or the gradual rising of the sun into its full morning glory.

"Weeping Clouds" musically entails a descending melodic line of a lamenting nature which is passed from one section of strings to another. Only at the very end does the line move upwards. The accompaniment consists of a constant seesawing of two notes giving an ethereal floating motion, and the descending pizzicato symbolising falling rain.

"A Messenger" is the revelation of a hauntingly simple melody gliding over a hypnotic accompaniment. The beauty of this enigmatic musical message briefly reflects on the infinite beyond our worldly concerns.