Dancing Lights of the North
Driving home one clear winter’s night, I looked out over fields of snow and glimpsed a greenish glow in the sky. I pulled over and watched, in awe, the dancing lights of the aurora. As I gazed, sounds and feelings unfolded in my mind. I knew that I needed to express this experience through music. I also knew that the concert band, with its dazzling palette of colours and huge range of potential textures, would be the perfect medium for this work.
“Dancing Lights of the North” Details
Duration: 8 minutes
Level: Grade 3-4
Instrumentation:
- 2 Flutes
- 1 Oboe
- 3 Clarinets
- 1 Bass Clarinet
- 1 Bassoon
- 2 Alto Saxophones
- 1 Tenor Saxophone
- 1 Baritone Saxophone
- 3 Trumpets
- 2 Horns in F
- 2 Trombones
- 1 Euphonium
- 1 Tuba
- 1 String Bass
- 3 Percussion Players
“Dancing Lights of the North” Commission Consortium Members:
Core Members
William Aberhart High School Symphonic Band, Kevin Willms director
Gareth Jones, University of Calgary Wind Ensemble and University of Calgary Symphonic Band
Sir Winston Churchill High School Symphonic Band: Judy L. Wishloff and David T. Graham, conductors.
Dr. Wayne Jeffrey, Kwantlen Wind Symphony
Calgary Wind Symphony, Jeremy Brown, Artistic Director
Mrs. Mireille Robinson, Rundle College Bands
University of Lethbridge Wind Orchestra, Conductor Wendy J. Freeman, PhD(c)
Jasper Jr./Sr. High School Senior Concert Band, 2012/2013, Mr. Jonathan Thornton Conductor
Brent Campbell, Vincent Massey Wind Ensemble, Vincent Massey High School, Brandon, Manitoba
Matilda Bentley
Associate Members
Joseph Banke
Supporters
Luke Puxley
Monart Pon