3 Flutes (1st doubles Piccolo, 3rd doubles Alto Flute)
2 Oboes
Cor Anglais
2 Clarinets in Bb
Bass Clarinet in Bb
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in C
2 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
4 Percussion
Piano/Celesta
Harp
Strings
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The triskelion, or triskele, is a symbol that appears in various forms
throughout history in what is now the European continent; it is believed to
have first appeared in Anatolian kingdoms in the 4th century BCE.
Most commonly, it appears as "three running legs, bent at the knee, conjoined at the centre." However, the symbol that inspired this piece
appears in the form of a Celtic knot featuring three connected spirals
contained within a circle. In the pagan realm of spirituality, a part of its
significance is tied to the idea that within the life cycle of a woman there
are three stages: maiden, mother, and crone. Each of these corresponds
to the cycles of the moon - new and waxing, full, and waning, respectively.
The beauty of the Celtic knot lies in the fact that it is composed of one,
continuous strand manifesting something much more complex - in the case
of the triskelion, a continuous flow through the cycle on a small (lunar) and large (life) scale, always ending (and beginning) in rebirth. It is truly a
celebration of change, evolution, growth and the things that make life
precious and enduring as the cycle flows on.
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