Elagabalus, Op. 19 - Symphonic Poem (Ben Emberley)

This is my second Orchestral composition - a Symphonic Poem based on the life and reign of the Roman Emperor Elagabalus, who ruled from 218 to 222 CE. A Symphonic Poem is, by definition, a piece of orchestral music (usually in a single continuous movement) which illustrates or evokes the content of a poem, short story, novel, painting, landscape, or other non-musical source. In other words, it tells a story through the music. The main melodic motif is based on the letters of Elagabalus' name, and is present throughout the whole composition in various ways. In several cases, the Dies Irae plainsong chant is also used, almost exclusively in the Brass. The music starts out gentle enough; outlining who Elegabalus was before his time as Emperor - a Syrian boy called Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, who came from Emesa (today called Homs) in Syria. He was the hereditary High Priest of Elagabal, the Sun God followed by the Syrian people, and the name by which he is best known. After the Roman Emperor Caracalla is assassinated, the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Macrinus, assumes the role of Emperor, but Elagabalus' family - most notably his grandmother Julia Maesa, who is related by blood to the Severan Dynasty, has other ideas: She uses her influence to get the Roman Military on her side, and to declare allegiance to her grandson who, on defeating Macrinus, is declared the new Roman Emperor. But when he and his Syrian people come to Rome, almost everyone wishes that they should have stayed with Macrinus! His rule as Emperor totally uprooted Rome in every conceivable fashion: His insistence on placing Elagabal as the Primary Deity of the Empire (above even Jupiter Optimus Maximus), even to a culture which had an already eclectic Polytheistic religion, was shocking. His marriage to a Vestal Virgin (the Shrine Maidens to the Goddess Vesta, who swore a 30-year vow of Chastity, the breaking of which resulted in death by Burial Alive), and his effeminate dressing and inversion of gender roles was devastating to the Roman culture and its people; a violation of every social and religious norm the Roman People held dear. Senators chose suicide over serving him and acquiescing to his Imperial requests and invitations. After 4 years, the Praetorian Guard, the Emperor's own personal Security Guards, had enough; assassinating him and his mother in the Praetorian Camp on March 13th 222 CE. Elagabalus definitely had major LBGTQIA elements to his identity, which makes this piece only all the more appropriate to premiere in Pride Month! #elagabalus #symphonicpoem #pridemonth