Franco Cesarini

Leviathan

The leviathan, a demoniacal sea monster that appears as a dragon or serpent, is considered in the Old Testament to be the embodiment of evil. The defeat of the demon is prophesied in Isaiah 27:1: 'On that day the Lord will punishwith his cruel sword, his mighty and powerful sword Leviathan that primeval sea-serpent, that writhing serpent Leviathan, and slay the monster of the deep. 'The composer's main goal is to create an atmosphere thick with agitation, tumult and extreme tension rather than express specific events musically. The monstrous form of the leviathan slowly emerges from the abyss of primordial sounds at the start of the piece, recalling the eternal conflict betweengoodand evil.