Mnemosyne's Pool Song Analysis

In 2015, Steven Mackey composed his masterpiece entitled Mnemosyne’s Pool. This song is unlike any other piece I have ever heard before. I was fortunate enough to witness this song played live at the St Louis Symphony earlier this fall. With its complexity and brilliance, the music hooked me from the beginning notes. The orchestra began with the first movement and the strange and eerie blends of sounds harkened the audience to a dream-like remembering. The music was very dark and ominous while thundering footsteps marched toward us loudly. We waited as the music climaxed for whatever was bearing down on us when suddenly the music shifted.
The music became softer and almost playful, luring the audience into a false sense of security.