"The composition of APOTHEOSIS OF THIS EARTH
was motivated by the present desperate stage
of mankind and its immense problems with
everyday killings, war, hunger, extermination
of fauna, huge forest fires, and critical
contamination of the whole environment. Man's
brutal possession and misuse of nature's
beauty - if continued at today's reckless
speed - can only lead to catastrophe."
Karel Husa was struck by the chaos of the
world around him in 1970. As a composer, he
knew that his instrument for change was his
music. The result was his APOTHEOSIS OF THIS
EARTH, a 25-minute "what if" that highlights
the potential self-destruction of the planet.
The three movements, in versions for both
wind band and orchestra, highlight the Earth
as it spins through time. In the first
movement, the Earth is seen as a point of
light in the universe, building to the second
movement, bringing us in close to the
destruction that we have brought upon
ourselves. The final movement offers some
catharsis and hope - the possibility that we
will not destroy ourselves.
It is striking that Husa's comments could
easily be made today, conjuring up images of
killings, war, hunger, and other man-made
ills that could scarcely have been imagined
35 years ago. Look at a newspaper, turn on
the TV. Have we fulfilled Husa's dire
predictions of the future?
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“It speaks directly from the heart to the
heart. It is a work of terrifying intensity,
a prolonged scream of anguish.”
– Irving Lowens, The Star and News,
Washington DC, April 16, 1973
“A stark musical depiction of the shameless
way man has used and abused our planet for
his own selfish ends. Husa succeeds in
projecting his dour message with gripping
force.”
– John Schneider, Atlanta Journal, March 19,
1976
“Apotheosis of This Earth has everything -
power, passion, mysticism, even peace and
ecology”
– Richard Freed, High Fidelity/Musical
American, July 1973
“Cataclysmic in impact, designed with a
master orchestrator’s highest cosmic
energies”
– Theodore Price, Rochester NY Democrat and
Chronicle, April 8, 1972
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Karel Husa is currently the
composer-in-residence in East Lansing, MI,
and will be featured in the same capacity at
the University of Louisville in November of
this year. He turns 85 on 7 August 2006.
