for Saxophone Quartet with or without live electronics
Recorded at the University of Oregon
Lauren Wagner, soprano saxophone
Nathan Irby, alto saxophone
Soren Hamm, tenor saxophone
Brandon Rumsey, baritone saxophone

A Moment of Peace was inspired by the lives of the Roman Emperors during the Pax Romana, which was instituted by Augustus Caesar. During this time the Romans lived in a state of peace for approximately 200 years, with little military expansion and high standards of urban living. Upon investigating the lives of the emperors during this time by reading Suetonius, an ancient historian and biographer of the Emperors of Rome, I realized that while on the surface the Romans were living in peace, there was much corruption, fear, and violence occurring within these autocrat’s lives and the lives of those surrounding them. Each of the movements in this suite represents one of the first five emperors in the Julio-Claudian dynasty, whose reigns occurred during this peace, as depicted in Suetonius’s Lives of the Caesars. The musical material in every movement is at least in some part derived from the opening motive of the first movement just as Augustus’s impact on Roman history affected each of his successors as well as the citizens. The character of each emperor is embodied in each movement, as is the length of their reign; the duration of each movement in relation to the others is intended to parallel the time each emperor spent in office.

A Moment of Peace was inspired by the lives of the Roman Emperors during the Pax Romana, which was instituted by Augustus Caesar. During this time the Romans lived in a state of peace for approximately 200 years, with little military expansion and high standards of urban living. Upon investigating the lives of the emperors during this time by reading Suetonius, an ancient historian and biographer of the Emperors of Rome, I realized that while on the surface the Romans were living in peace, there was much corruption, fear, and violence occurring within these autocrat’s lives and the lives of those surrounding them. Each of the movements in this suite represents one of the first five emperors in the Julio-Claudian dynasty, whose reigns occurred during this peace, as depicted in Suetonius’s Lives of the Caesars. The musical material in every movement is at least in some part derived from the opening motive of the first movement just as Augustus’s impact on Roman history affected each of his successors as well as the citizens. The character of each emperor is embodied in each movement, as is the length of their reign; the duration of each movement in relation to the others is intended to parallel the time each emperor spent in office.

Augustus was a benevolent dictator when placed in comparison to the rest of Rome’s rulers. One of the largest problems faced in a monarchy is that of inheritance. Tiberius inherited the throne from Augustus, whereas Augustus worked his way up the political ladder to obtain rulership of Rome. Tiberius did much for the city of Rome initially, but towards the end of his reign, began to abuse his power. He started to engage in very depraved acts and took delight in torture. The emperors that followed Tiberius would be greatly influenced by his excess and brutality.

Augustus was a benevolent dictator when placed in comparison to the rest of Rome’s rulers. One of the largest problems faced in a monarchy is that of inheritance. Tiberius inherited the throne from Augustus, whereas Augustus worked his way up the political ladder to obtain rulership of Rome. Tiberius did much for the city of Rome initially, but towards the end of his reign, began to abuse his power. He started to engage in very depraved acts and took delight in torture. The emperors that followed Tiberius would be greatly influenced by his excess and brutality.

Augustus was a benevolent dictator when placed in comparison to the rest of Rome’s rulers. One of the largest problems faced in a monarchy is that of inheritance. Tiberius inherited the throne from Augustus, whereas Augustus worked his way up the political ladder to obtain rulership of Rome. Tiberius did much for the city of Rome initially, but towards the end of his reign, began to abuse his power. He started to engage in very depraved acts and took delight in torture. The emperors that followed Tiberius would be greatly influenced by his excess and brutality.

Nero exceeded even Caligula in excess, debauchery, and cruelty. He disregarded the highest of Roman laws, performing such unthinkable acts as raping a Vestal Virgin. He also attempted to kill his own mother more than once. He was a musician and performer, and although he was terrible, forced Roman citizens to watch and listen to him. Nero is reported to have continued playing his fiddle while Rome burned to the ground. Nero committed suicide to avoid assassination.