Thoughts on Atalanta Fugiens Emblem 1

I've been thinking about a synthesized musical setting of Michael Maier's fugue from the first emblem in Atalanta Fugiens. Because it represents the birth of divinity as brought about by the north wind, I want to use compositional devices, processes, sounds, that recall the motion of the wind. These are primarliy chaotic fluid flow and in general a sense of order developing from chaos.

However the first sound heard is a single high-pitched tone, representing the Word which the darkness could not comprehend. The high tone descends through the course of the piece in seven stages, representing the seven angels, planets, colors of the rainbow,  etc. This is parallel to the ancient belief that the human soul at birth descends from the Sphere of the Stars and touches on the Spheres of the seven planets in their astrological order (cf. Cicero - the Dream of Scipio.) Thus the first sphere it touches upon on its way down is Saturn, followed by Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury and finally the Moon. Each planet is represented in appropriate imagery and sound.

The piece is structured as this series of descending tones alternating with periods of chaos (chaotic wind storm). The chaos gradually develops musical characteristcs and ultimately takes the form of Maier's Fugue #1, arranged for brass quintet.

I would also like to make this something of a Dynamic Text piece, using as textual material Maier's rhyming Latin, translated thus:

If BOREAS can in his own Wind conceive

An offspring that can bear this light and live;

In Art, Strength, Body, Mind

He shall excell

All wonders men of Ancient Heroes tell.

Think him no Caeso nor Abortive brood,

Nor yet Agrippa, for his Star is good.

The visual design will be something like the following. Visually, the sections named "TONE" will be  Dynamic Text, while the sections named for a Planet will be montages of imagery relevant to that planetary power.

1. TONE D7 - point of Light in black - "The Wind Hath Carried Him."
2. WINDSTORM - (SATURN) - windstorm - dry leaves blowing, wind ripples on water
3. TONE D6 - "If BOREAS can in his own Wind conceive an offspring"
4. JUPITER () - in his guise as the Bringer of Gifts, Father Christmas
5. TONE D5 - "An offspring that can bear this light and live;"
6. MARS
7. TONE D4 - "In Art, Strength, Body, Mind He shall excel"
8. SUN
9. TONE D3 - "He shall excell All wonders men of Ancient Heroes tell."
10. VENUS
11. TONE D2 - "Think him no Caeso nor Abortive brood, Nor yet Agrippa"
12. MERCURY
13. TONE G1 - "for his Star is good."
14. MOON ( water imagery for transition to Emblem 2)

Physical simulations that occur in this piece - Wind (chaotic fluid flow)

physically modelled synthesizers:

1. Apple Sculpture (string/wind model)
2. Applied Acoustic Systems Chromaphon - modal synthesis, modelled percussive plates and bars
3. Lorenz Attractor generates detuned pitch patterns in choral tones.