Yet another day of little composing, but at least some got done.
I want to focus on the last three bars of this screenshot. They begin a little theme that provides contrast to the rest of this section's jarring and angular melodies with a much more lyric and flowing feel. We're also in four-part harmony again.
The emitted emotion in these bars is also contrasting. Rather than anger on the verge of rage, it sounds more sad and lamenting. This is not by accident. In this movement, Choir I represents the rebellious people who not only disregard and cast out the prophets, but go on to call out, 'Slay him! Stone him! Crucify him!' They are a people in open rebellion against God.
Have you ever been in open rebellion against someone who loved you, especially a parent? Most of us have as some point or another. We are unhappy with certain rules or restrictions and we begin to complain against them. Then we try to get away with disobedience. Eventually we are actively fighting against those who love us most - and whom we love as well. We are filled with anger against them.
Anger is often categorised as a secondary emotion: one that evolves from primary emotions of fear, frustration, humiliation, or sadness. Therefore, no matter how angry we feel, those other feelings of fear or sadness are still there, feeding the anger. These bars are those underlying emotions: fear of realising our guilt before God, and sadness of using our own agency to deliberately distance ourself from 'the arms of His love.' (2 Ne 2:15)
Each time one of these sections in which the music in Choir I switches from pulsating and jarring to legato and lyric it represents a time when the people are given another opportunity to repent and turn back towards a loving God. However, as you'll see, the people will continually reject such opportunities and instead chose their own pride to fuel their anger to their own potential condemnation.
Photo from here.
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