Composer's Note

The Latin root of the word Celestine is caelestis, meaning celestial, referring to the sky or heaven. It is also the name of a mineral with a subtle blue color. Unlike most of my other works, Celestine takes no inspiration from any story, narrative, or other work of art; instead it is an exercise in melody and accompaniment. From beginning to end it is dominated by one tune, developed and transformed against a steady rhythmic backdrop through various harmonic turns. It is a simple musical object, intended simply to charm and amuse.

Celestine was commissioned by the Manila Symphony Orchestra and completed in New York City around Thanksgiving in 2017.

Instrumentation

2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets in B flat, timpani, strings

Duration

6 minutes

First Performance

9 December 2017, Power Mac Center Spotlight, Makati, Philippines
Manila Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Molina