This composition represents the creative peak of Aita Donostia. It is his most ambitious and elaborate work, as well as the largest in scope. Written for symphony orchestra, three-part choir and solo voice, this work scales unprecedented artistic heights, displaying both the maturity of the composer’s musical language and his ability to explore new horizons of sound. It reflects the influence of the most advanced musical avant-garde of the time, and sometimes uses techniques such as polytonality and bitonality.

The roots of the beginnings of La vie profonde lie in the success of Aita Donostia’s previous work, Les trois Miracles de Sainte Cécile [The Three Miracles of Saint Cecilia]. After its premiere, Donostia decided to undertake a new commemorative project for 1926, the year when the seventh centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi was celebrated. This led Donostia to suggest to Henri Ghéon that he might write a play about the saint’s life, a request to which the playwright agreed. Inspired by this text, Donostia composed the Illustrations Musicales as a musical tribute to Saint Francis.

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