string orchestra
2026

Duration 15’
Instrumentation strings: (min.) 8.6.4.4.2
First Performance 20 May 2026, Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, Place des Volontaires 2, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland more info;
L’orchestre de Chambre de Geneve; Gergely Madaras, conductor
Commissioned by L’orchestre de Chambre de Geneve

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Arc of the Vanishing Star is an arrangement of The Sun was Chasing Venus, originally written for string quintet (2012).

Driven with frenetic energy, the piece is through-composed, vividly moving between contrasting sections. Featuring the violas in an expressive dialogue is a slower, hazy episode which gives way to a violin solo with sparse, rhythmic accompaniment. Brisk music returns in a playful, excitable section, before a cadenza-like cello solo.

The piece takes its shape from the concept of ascending, the music always rising. The title, an abstract description of the work, represents the idea of a game of pursuit; musical lines chasing each other, out of which comes a sense of journey.