Patrick Gardner: Carl Orff Competition 2019 Capriccio for Organ

My Capriccio was written for the Carl Orff Festival Competition 2019.

Two musical ideas were given, the first a melody by Mozart, the second a chord by Carl Orff. To these I added a third of my own. It seemed to me that, in different ways, both composers looked back to Antiquity - for inspiration, subject matter and narrative. I did the same, choosing the famous "Know Yourself" motto, believed to have been inscribed on the temple wall of the Oracle at Delphi. The overall style of my piece reflects the use of quotation in the works of Shostakovich, Schnittke and Berio. Quotations, often transformed, are marked *. [They are all in public domain.]

The piece is in three sections:

Prelude - in which an augmented version of Mozart's melody - actually a quotation, symbolising the simplicity of childhood - comes face to face with my "Delphic" theme. Under the pressure of developing self-knowledge, the augmentation is gradually compressed until the Mozart melody as given is revealed. All this takes place surrounded by harmonies developed from Carl Orff's chord. The compression of the melody continues until there is nothing left (the "random" staccato bars).

Rondeau - in which we see Mozart more through Orff's eyes. There are a number of quotations, rhythmically and melodically related to the Mozart theme, which show Mozart as a fresh-faced youngster starting out, as a newly married man, facing responsibilities and then turning to doubt and questioning in his search of self. The presence of a reflecting Carl Orff is felt more and more during the short interludes.

Toccata - in which Orff's chordal material is also brought face to face with the Delphic theme. After some additional melodic statements, the piece concludes,
somewhat acerbically. What have we learned about Mozart? What has Carl Orff learned about himself? Indeed, what have we learned of ourselves?
The Delphic oracle remains as enigmatic as ever - it is for each listener to decide themselves.