The symphony celebrates the arrival in the Ecuadorian coast of German philosopher and natural explorer Alexander von Humboldt in 1804. It was premiered on November 29, 2019, marking the 250^th anniversary of his death.The symphony makes use of texts from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Giacomo Leopardi and Gabriela Mistral, along with an antique Greek epitaph. It is written in seven movements.

The first movement, “Naturgemälde” (“Pictures of Nature”) was inspired by the plant geography map that Humboldt published in 1805 under the same title. The second movement “Ihr Geister” (‘you spirits’), is written for soprano solo and a chamber size orchestra. The lyrics come from Goethe’s Faust.

The  third movement’s titled in Spanish “Danza de las cañas mansas” (“Dance of the meek canes”). It depicts the graceful swaying movement of canes near the Pacific Ocean. Scored for strings and percussion, with solos assigned to the oboe ,then two flutes, and  French horn. The movement should be choreographed as a dance ensemble of performers with canes.

The fourth movement,  “Abendstrahl” (“Evening Beam”) is composed for a soprano solo, a youth choir in three voices, and chamber orchestra in a short lied form, a tribute to Gustav Mahler. The fifth movement takes the form of canonic variations on an Ecuadorian dance called “Alza” (Spanish for “raise”). Written for strings playing pizzicato,

The sixth movement, “Die Natur,” depicts Nature’s ominous power, using a wide range of dynamics, culminates in a massive crescendo at the end, signifying the tremendous eruption of an Andean volcano.

The final movement opens with one of the oldest recorded song in the Western world, called the “Seikilos Epitaph.” This is followed by an isorhythmic motet: the hymn becomes a Cantus firmus. The two texts used are Goethe’s Faust in German and Leopardi’s Italian from “L’infinito.”. A short transition leads to the Spanish “Lullaby Song” by Gabriela Mistral. The piece concludes in the softest dynamic, with the soprano singing a description of God gently rocking a baby.