The Celestial Sphere is a large scale oratorio for chorus and orchestra by Charles Wuorinen, commissioned by Augustana College (Rock Island, Illinois) for the 100th anniversary of the Handel Oratorio Society, which gave the premiere performance on 25 April 1981 under the direction of Donald Morrison, conductor.
The composition was written from January 2 to September 9, 1980, in Baltimore, Binghamton (NY), Buffalo (NY), Gardiner (MA), Iowa City (IA), Jackson Hole (WY), Los Angeles, Middle Valley (NJ), New York City, Rock Island (IL), and San Francisco.
Wuorinen's full title is The Celestial Sphere / An Oratorio / For Mixed Chorus / And Orchestra / Containing: I. Symphony About the Empyrean / Lord, What is Man (William Fuller, 1693) (Solemn Setting) / II.
The tape part (created at Bell Labs) can be replaced by silence if desired.
[1][2][3][4] Wuorinen's Ecclesiastical Symphonies are the purely orchestral movements of this work.