go back

Commissioned by Philip Ellis, Cliff Jones and Hertfordshire Music Service. At the height of its power, the Aztec Empire stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, dominating Mesoamerica. The Chief God of the Aztecs was Huitzilopochtli, the Sun God, who was worshipped above all other deities. Many temples were dedicated to him throughout the Kingdom, but the most important of these was the Grat Temple of Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, which is now the site of Mexico City. The Sun was central to the Aztec's faith, and they believed that without offerings to Huitzilopochtli, the Sun would disapper forever. To this end, it is estimated that 10,000 people a year were sacrificed on the summits of the temples. This piece, in four continuous sections, depicts the events surrounding the dedication of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlán in 1487, at which 80,000 victims were sacrificed to the Aztec Gods.
(Duration - 10 minutes)

In the Realm of the Sun God was first performed by Hertfordshire County Youth Brass, conducted by Cliff Jones, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, 15th September 2001.

Publisher: Studio Music Co