Born in the St. Boniface ward of Winnipeg, Jocelyn Morlock (1969-2023) was one of Canada’s most prominent composers. Based in Vancouver, she was the inaugural composer-in-residence for the city’s Music on Main Society (2012–14), and later for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2014-2019). She described much of her music as being “inspired by birds, insomnia, or a peculiar combination thereof.”
In the 2001 string orchestra work, Solace, the solo violin erupts in exuberant birdsong over a haunting, meditative backdrop. We venture into the drone-oriented stasis of early music, specifically the work of French Renaissance composer Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521). Morlock wrote, “The inspiration for this piece came from my first year of university, when I heard Josquin’s L’Homme Arme for the first time.”
The composer wrote,
“Unlike most string orchestra works, “Solace” requires the group to be divided into three smaller sub-ensembles:
1. the “early music” ensemble, consisting of two violins, two violas, cello and double bass, playing music that is partially derived from the Agnus Dei of Josquin’s L’Homme Arme (sexti toni) Mass.
2. the more ethereal sounding group of five violins (3 first, 2 or 3 second), positioned above the rest of the ensemble, playing very long, slow harmonics.
3. the violin and cello soloists, whose music is meant to be a response to that of the “early music” ensemble.”
We explored the richly polyphonic Agnus Dei from Josquin’s Missa L’homme Armé Sexti Toni (“sixth mode”), composed circa 1502, in this earlier post.
Recordings
- Morlock: Solace, Mark Fewer, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Amazon
Featured Image:
Gorgeous – thanks for featuring this. Not easy finding a recording to stream of Josquin Desprez’s L’Homme Arme, the work that inspired Morlock’s piece.