Vitriol

Vitriol (2020) is a trio in three movements, each inspired by the well-known alchemical motto: “Visita Interiora Terræ Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem” (“By visiting the interior of the earth and purifying, you will find the hidden stone”). The work draws upon this symbolic journey as a metaphor for personal and spiritual transformation.

The first movement, Visitando Interiora Terræ…, is built upon a driving, energetic pattern that gradually expands through the addition of new motifs, weaving an increasingly intricate polyphonic texture. The three instruments engage in a kind of imitative interplay, as if tracing their way through a subterranean labyrinth, probing the depths in search of hidden truths.

The second movement, Rectificando…, adopts a more lyrical and meditative character. Here, the melodic line takes centre stage, offering a moment of introspection—an inner journey reflecting the process of purification and self-betterment essential to the alchemical path.

The final movement, Invenies Occultum Lapidem…, is rhythmically vibrant, joyful, and playful, evoking the exhilaration and clarity that accompany the discovery of the philosopher’s stone—or, metaphorically, the attainment of insight or enlightenment at the end of a transformative quest.