Solicitudo

About Solicitudo:

"The backdrop to this piece is the narrative of how elderly, vulnerable and disabled people were treated across the timescales of the pandemic, when facing critical illness. There were times when relatives were contacted and asked to sign DNR orders, by a doctor, on behalf of an incapacitated patient. This has sparked the process of an Inquiry to protect the rights of vulnerable people which had been violated. The attitude to do away with some patient’s lives if they were of a certain age seemed to be prevalent, rather than trying to treat their condition, during the pandemic.

The structure of the piece is ternary form, opening section A, with a dreamy, lyrical theme. In section B there are rising themes which are shrill and articulated with tremolo indications, after which there are moments of silence. This section strives to capture the struggle, the anxiety, and fears that a patient has to grapple with in trying to stand to walk, or sit: in an attempt to deal with embracing mobility. Silences are very much a part of this piece. 

The final section brings back the theme that was present in the beginning (section A), however here the character of the theme has changed as it is tinged with more dissonance, as well as interruptions with moments of silence. Section A here is indicating the change in the patient’s condition……where the patient and relatives have to contend with the change in the patients condition, on a journey of anxiety, concern, uneasiness, with watchful concern and solicitude (as each person is locked in their own experience of this journey during the pandemic)." -Philip Herbert

Ternary Form:
A - 0:15
B - 1:41
A' - 3:47