I wasn't able to get a whole lot of work done due to meetings, other appointments, and health interferences. However, I did live up to my goal of never having a zero day, and I'm proud of that!
The work today was continuing on in the fifth movement of Martyrdom of the Saints. This is proving to be trickier than I had thought. Maybe I should try harder at not trying so hard, if that makes sense. The other two movements I've finished first drafts for have definitely been rough, and I feel ok about that, as I'll be going back over them over and over again with a fine toothed comb up until it's due at the end of the year.
Anyway, here's what I got:
Now that I have a basic foundation for the melody and harmony of this section I'll be able to start laying down the accompaniment. I main inspiration behind this idea comes from the second movement of Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, 'Beat, Beat Drums!' This will gradually build in a crescendo, passing back and forth between the choir and the tenor soloist, up to a giant flourish at the words 'Slay him!' which will open up into a much more funeral-dirge-like section.
Overall, my goal in this movement is to make people squirm. I might be a bit too conservative to really pull that off still, but at least I'm pushing myself.