• The cover page of "Angela of Foligno", a work for antiphonal trombone choir by Ethan Pound.
  • The first page of movement 1, entitled "The Pilgrimage to Assisi".
  • The first page of movement 2, entitled "Arrival at St. Francis's Church".
  • The first page of movement 3, entitled "The Holy Scream".
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American Brass Press

Angela of Foligno

Angela of Foligno

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The theology of Angela of Foligno, a 13th-century mystic, has fascinated me ever since I was introduced to her work in a course during my studies at Oberlin College. This work is not a commentary on the saint’s theology, but rather a tone poem depicting an event described in The Book of Divine Consolation of the Blessed Angela of Foligno (also known as Memorial). (1) On pilgrimage to the city of Assisi, Angela prays to St. Francis of Assisi and the Holy Spirit responds, accompanying her until she arrives at her destination. Upon her arrival at St. Francis’s Church in Assisi, the Holy Spirit departs from Angela, but not before reassuring her of his everlasting presence, stating:

Thus closely will I hold thee, and so much closer that bodily eyes can neither perceive nor comprehend it. But now, My beloved daughter and temple of My delight, the hour is come when I must fill thee with My spirit and must leave thee. I have told thee that because of this consolation I must leave thee; nevertheless, if thou lovest me, I will not leave thee. (2)

Angela then witnesses a visual manifestation of the voice, something she describes as “a thing full of great majesty.” (3) Upon the Holy Spirit’s exit, a completely overwhelmed Angela screams and cries out to the holy visitor in the doorway of the church. (4)

Angela of Foligno was born out of a desire to integrate the sackbut into modern trombone choir and push the boundaries of standard trombone choir composition. Through archaic instrumentation, an antiphonal ensemble setup, and extended techniques such as glissandi and flutter tonguing, I looked to create a surreal soundscape depicting Angela’s mystical fervor.

— Ethan Pound

 

(1) Angela of Foligno. The Book of Divine Consolation of the Blessed Angela of Foligno. Translated by Mary G. Steegman. Chatto and Windus, 1909.
(2) Foligno, Divine Consolation, 165.
(3) Foligno, Divine Consolation, 166.
(4) The full story of this tone poem is contained in pages 157 to 166 of Divine Consolation.

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