Crucifixus

CRUCIFICUS for mixed eight-part choir was commissioned by Ex Tempore, conducted by Florian Heyerick, in 2003. This composition was inspired by the “Crucifixus” from Claudio Monteverdi's “Selva Morale e Spirituale”. Henderickx has attempted to adopt the structure and rhythmic progression of Monteverdi's composition in its entirety. The tonal material of this work is based on a modal composition technique developed by Henderickx himself. A nine-tone mode serves as the basis for the composition. There is a clear evolution in aesthetics, moving from Monteverdi's language to Wim Henderickx's aesthetic sound idiom. The end of the composition is characterised by floating quarter-tone oscillations combined with a serially ordered solo melody. This clearly refers to his fascination with non-Western music.