Two antiphonal choirs — one of cornets and a horn, one of trombones — are placed left and right of the stage in this epic solo for Baritone (or Euphonium). The piece is a set of variations on the madrigal ‘Tenebrae Factae Sunt’ by the Renaissance composer Gesualdo. It describes the last hours of Jesus before his crucifixion. The soloist takes the role of Jesus as he cries out “Father, why hast thou forsaken me?”