From the 16th century onwards Britain saw an increase in the number of Romany travellers arriving from Europe. With them came the practice of cartomancy: using magic ‘Tarot’ cards as a process of divination to gain insight into the past, present or future by posing a question to the cards.

Tarot Cards were historically viewed with suspicion across British society as an occult practice and the practice of card reading was eventually banned by the Protestant and Catholic church as an act deemed mystic, heretical, semiotic and hermeneutic. Despite this, many would still seek out the Romany fortune tellers, desperate to know their fate.

The music opens with a haunting music box, which sets the thematic material for the rest of the piece. The power of the cards suddenly erupts as the spell is cast and, from this, the music follows the twists and turns of the prediction. We then finish with the inevitable as the music box returns one final time and, along with a faint heartbeat, solemnly slows to a stop.