No, it's not a disease. It's not the sequel to District 9.

 

A periapsis is the point in orbit where two celestial bodies are closest to each other. For example, since we orbit the sun, the point in our orbit each year where we are closest to the sun would be our periapsis. 

 

Taking that whole idea a little further, there is some debate among people WAY more informed on this topic about how the energy transfer between the two celestial bodies affects the organisms on their respective surfaces. Some argue that when the planets are farthest away would be optimum (less "tense" energy). Others argue that a periapsis would be optimum, being that the two bodies will give off so much energy so as to charge all the organisms in a positive manner.

 

DOES ALL THIS SOUND A LITTLE OVER-DRAMATIC? RIDICULOUSLY NERDY EVEN?! That's because it is. We're doing it big on this one.

 

With all that in mind, "A Periapsis Suite" is an original, long-form, five movement suite designed to illustrate the time leading up to periapsis, periapsis itself, and the time moving away from periapsis. The suite is a "mirror" of itself, being that sections 1 and 5 are linked, as are 2 and 4. Section 3 is a standalone section that is supposed to aurally depict a sort of utopian state, as it would be the point of periapsis.