Portrayal of Life and Death: An Analytical Study of Tarik O'Regan's Triptych

The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of an extended choral composition by English composer Tarik O'Regan, and familiarize the reader with musical and non-musical experiences that influence his musical output. Tarik O'Regan's Triptych is scored for SATB chorus, and the subject matter addresses the themes of peace, unity, life and death. The author seeks to facilitate an informed understanding of this specific work and provide a general resource for conductors who have an interest in performing music composed by Tarik O'Regan. Significant events regarding the life of Tarik O'Regan, from his birth until the present, are highlighted. The narrative identifies key experiences in his life that influenced him as a composer, including childhood experiences in Morocco and Algeria, listening to his parents' LP collections during the early 80s, being exposed to multiple languages as a child, being widely read, and his interest in different religious, ethnic and national traditions, architecture, and art (specifically of North Africa). This historical inquiry also investigates how O'Regan's musical and stylistic interests are inspired by: jazz, Renaissance music, English choral music, American minimalism, and al-Andalusian music (North African influence). The study concludes with a poetic and musical analysis of O'Regan's Triptych. A general overview of pertinent compositional information is provided. Finally, O'Regan's Triptych is analyzed for its musical content, including formal tables and musical excerpts as supporting information.