Fólkvangr

In Norse mythology Fólkvangr is a meadow ruled over by the goddess Freyja. Literally translated “field of the host” this meadow is where half of those that die in combat go upon their death. This piece begins with a programmatic approach, playing with the literary concept of “in media res,” the listener is thrown into the middle of things as the horn is struggling to stay above the rumbling accompaniment in the piano. The music then takes a sharp turn and the piece becomes about traversing an unknown landscape. A chaconne in the piano lays a foundation on which the horn slowly wanders.

To me this piece is not literally about death, but rather about trauma. Trauma comes in many forms but everybody who experiences it in some form shares a common scar. After a long journey the music finally settles into something more peaceful, but the piano is still influenced by the opening chords of the chaconne.