Steven Sametz

Be/dazzled

Be/dazzled, concertino for Electric Violin and Chamber Orchestra, draws its inspiration from the first line of a text that is a paraphrase of the second Logion (sayings attributed to Christ) from the Gospel according to Thomas: 'Let him seek and cease not 'til he finds, and when he finds he will be troubled, and when he has been troubled, he shall marvel: and he will reign over the All. ' The solo violinist is cast as the seeker. The opening cadenza has a searching quality which is developed in a dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra. The ending moves towards the idea of the title: that there is an opening into dazzling brilliance and understanding of the All.