Rosa Mystica (from Sonata No. 5) by Alexander Vella Gregory published on 2015-06-22T18:43:05Z V - Rosa Mystica (Mystic Rose) from Piano Sonata No. 5 'Litany' This is the 5th movement from my Piano Sonata No. 5 subtitled 'Litany'. Each of the 12 movements is a musical reflection on one of the many titles ascribed to the Virgin Mary in the Catholic devotion of the Litany of the Virgin. The rose is a flower with a very powerful symbolism, associated with love, and also with the Virgin Mary. The number 5 is the basis of this movement, derived from the 5-petal rose of heraldry. The right hand has a perpetuum mobile figure that changes by one note every 5 bars. Against this, a five note row in the other voice appear slowly, at pre-determined intervals. The result is an unfolding and closing of the ‘rose’. Joanne Camilleri, piano Thursday 15th May 2014 Sala Isouard, Valletta Genre pianosonata