Angel Who Bears a Flaming Sword, The

The Angel Who Bears a Flaming Sword, Op94b by Karl Henning

Scored for C Flute and Piano
Duration: 10:00

Lento

Lo stesso tempo

Adagietto

Tempo primo

Poco piu mosso

The Angel Who Bears a Flaming Sword, originally a piece for trumpet, was adapted to C flute for Nicole Chamberlain, who is active as both a flutist and composer in Atlanta, Georgia. It was premiered by her in November 2009 at Emory Presbyterian Church. The piece has some elements of Ego vox clamantis in deserto (as John the Baptist ‘explained’ himself in the Gospel). The sword of flame is in the hands of an Angel posted by the Most High to bar the return of errant man to Paradise; and, in part, this piece meditates on that Angel’s sorrow.

Karl Henning (b.1960) is a composer and clarinetist in Boston, Massachusetts, where many noted ensembles and performers have commissioned his music, notably the virtuoso women’s vocal trio Tapestry (Castelo dos anjos) and the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble (Out in the Sun).