Commissioned by Brian Teed and the Wakeland High School Percussion Ensemble for their 2022 PASIC performance. Electronic composition by Justin Shelton.

“Plagues” is inspired by the Biblical account of the struggle between Moses and Pharaoh, as written in Exodus chapters 2-14. The piece begins with the discovery of Moses killing an Egyptian taskmaster. Because of this, Pharaoh attempts to kill Moses. Moses flees into the desert and eventually encounters the burning bush from which God tells him to go back to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery.

Moses and his brother Aaron, represented by the djembes and timpani, confront Pharaoh, represented by the piano. When Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go, Aaron throws his staff down. In a display of God’s power, Aaron’s staff turns into a snake. Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the trick, except Aaron’s staff eats the other snakes. The use of various shakers in this section represent the sands of Egypt while the two cabasas characterize the dueling snakes. 

When Pharaoh still refuses their request, the different plagues begin in a whirlwind of fast-paced and unsettled music. Pharaoh’s theme, along with Moses and Aaron’s themes, are inserted into the chaos of the plagues as they repeat God’s message “Let my people go.” Pharaoh continues to refuse and his heart grows harder. With this, Pharaoh is warned that the worst of the plagues is yet to come. Total darkness then covers the land for three days. When Pharaoh still refuses, the angel of death kills all of the firstborn sons in Egypt of those who did not observe the Passover, including Pharaoh’s son.

The re-entry of Pharaoh’s theme in the piano, and Moses and Aaron’s theme in the timpani, reflects on a deeply broken and forever changed Pharaoh with the warnings of Moses and Aaron still ringing in his ears. The Israelites are finally released and begin their journey out of Egypt with both hope and caution. Once they leave, Pharaoh changes his mind and sends his army after the Israelites on chariots. Pinned between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, Moses raises his staff and God parts the Red Sea for the Israelities to cross to safety. Once the Israelites are across, God brings the water down and destroys the entire Egyptian army.

Over the years, this incredible story has been told through animation, live actors, and special effects. My imagination could not fully realize the nature of this epoch without wanting more sounds than acoustic percussion instruments alone can provide. Thus, the addition of electronics throughout the piece has been crucial in bringing this old story to life in a new way.

Available for purchase here. Published by C. Alan Publications.