By The Waterless Fountain

By The Waterless Fountain is a reflective piece of music, inspired by an image of a old and disused fountain in a garden at nighttime. The first theme has a sweeping melody, with a largely minor tonality. Initially, the music centres around the string section, but they are later joined by counter-melodies from the flute and horn. The theme is repeated and extended, and the tonality gradually becomes more major and uplifting.

The second theme is a variation of the first, and is played by two harps. These instruments are tuned differently, giving greater harmonic possibilities than if a single harp was used. The string section fades in and out in the background, ensuring that primary focus is always on the harps. A short cadenza leads back to the first theme, this time played solely by the woodwinds. Following this, the music reaches its peak with a richer orchestration of the same theme. The piece ends in a resigned fashion, with the two harps slowly echoing the initial phrase.

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