The Fifth Element
ORCHESTRATION: Picc.2.2.EngHn.2.3(3BsCl).2.Cbn/4.3.3.1/Timp.2perc/harp/strings
DURATION: 9 minutes
PUBLISHER: Lyric Row Press
Commissioned by The Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-EisenachIntendant & General Manager, Michaela Barchevitch
Music Director, Markus Huber
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“It all began with Dorman's new work, The Fifth Element, a one-movement rhapsody for orchestra. In addition to the elements of fire, water, air and earth, as he explained in the program booklet, he wanted to find through sound “an emptiness, a stillness... that allows us to really listen to the world and the world through love and to perceive through our soul”. Dorman created calm sounds, then rousing outbursts of emotion as well as a pause that ended in a gentle fading away. The audience responded with strong applause.”
Horst Groener, Thüringische Landeszeitung, May 13, 2022
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When Michaela Barchevitchova suggested that I write a piece exploring the idea of “The Fifth Element” I was intrigued by the notion of an aethereal, intangible element in addition to the accepted four physical elements. Reading about the history of this idea, I found commonalities from around the world, aether in ancient Greece, void in Japanese Buddhism, and references to the human soul and love in other traditions. In Vedantic Hinduism, akasha means the basis and essence of all things in the material world and according to the Samkhya school, akasha is one of the five grand physical elements having the specific property of sound. I particularly connected with the idea of finding a void, a quietness, that enables us to truly listen to the world and truly perceive the world through love and through our soul. Moreover, that sound is the access point to the other elements that seemed particularly real to me, being a composer.