The Chosen One a painting by Hodler has some unusual elements.
A small boy kneeling opposite a small and very unhealthy looking plant.
The angels that surround the boy are floating just above the ground and have an unusual look on their faces – neither happy, nor sad, just indifferent.
The scene is set in wasteland that would not look out of place on a battlefield during the Great War in Europe 1914 to 1918.
The use of colour is very plain, almost drab.
All of this imagery is brought together under the title The Chosen One.
This tells me that everything is not what it seems. Should not the arrival of the “Chosen One” be a glorious moment of triumph set in a scene of great rejoicing with a feeling of hope and a tremendous future to look forward to?
This is hardly the feeling that this painting depicts.
All of this imagery is more of desolation, hopelessness and despair. There even seems to be an almost sinister undertone that conflicts with the title of the painting.
I therefore understood the overall theme as –

“Be careful of what it is that you wish for as it may come true.”

This piece of music is divided into three sections depicting the Chosen One from the point that he is discovered.

Introduction: The Chosen One emerges and is thought to be some kind of saviour or great prophet. Someone amazing that that will change the world forever, bringing the dawn of a new age. The feeling is one of rejoicing and celebration. Trumpets sound triumphant fanfares. In the euphoria all are thankful that the World is about to become a better place.
But is it?
Those close to the Chosen One take another look. Is he really here to serve and rescue mankind, or is there another purpose? Does he have his ‘own’ purpose to serve?
The joy is quickly replaced by worry. Things are not what they appeared at first. Some dark and sinister characteristics are beginning to show themselves. The feeling of euphoria has become a feeling of fear and apprehension.

Dynamic: bright and strong at first becoming quite and sullen
Orchestration: Initially, the orchestration is thick with the brass in the forefront playing in a fanfare to celebrate the arrival of the Chosen One. The ‘major tonality’ represents this joyful and celebratory feeling. The orchestration then thins out and the tonality switches from major to minor. The drop in dynamic depicts the apprehension – almost like holding your breath, too afraid to make a sound. Whispering “oh my, what is this that we’ve unleashed upon the world?”
The melody switches from the bright tones of the trumpet to the darker French horn. The dynamic grows gradually as the Chosen One rises to announce his intentions.

Section 1: The Chosen One begins to grow and determine how best to achieve his aim. The mood is of steady, grim determination. The Chosen One is ruthless, single minded, ambitious, vengeful, vindictive and determined.
Nothing will get in his way.

Dynamic: A dark riff followed by a driving, pulsating rhythm during the verse depicting the single-minded ambition of the Chosen One. The ‘angular’ melody with the ‘cocked wah’ depicts his crazed temperament. The high note density and screaming harmonics at the end of each verse depicts the sudden bouts of rage that the Chosen One flies into at will.
Orchestration: Thick and heavy centred around the riff.

Section 2: The Chosen One finally achieves his aims. He unleashes chaos on the World. The Ostinato figure [repeating phrase] has an unusual length of phrase to create a feeling of instability. The lead guitar and trumpets play a fanfare, which is a gesture that mocks and jeers at the opening triumphant celebrations. The Ostinato figure drops to a lower key as the drums double in tempo. The lead guitar plays an intricate passage depicting the Chosen One celebrating his own triumph. The drums drop back to normal time returning the ‘determined’ quality and heaviness to the Ostinato figure but the lead guitar now becomes chaotic as the Chosen One’s sinister schemes climax.

Finale: During the closing moments, the orchestration thins out to just the strings and a distant sounding lead guitar. The mood is one of sadness and regret as those Chosen One leave desolation and wastelands in his wake. The lead guitar represents the voice of the souls crying out as they are crushed beneath his oppressive will.
Those same souls that made a wish that came true.
A wish they all deeply regretted.