Fractured Light
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General Info
Year: 2012
Duration: c 9:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Eric Guinivan
Cost: Score and Parts - Not found.
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo (doubling Flute III)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
C Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-VI, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bongos
- Chimes
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Slapstick
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-Tam
- Tom-Tom
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Fractured Light is inspired by the imagery of sunlight “fractured" into rays of light that slowly shift, shimmer, and sparkle. The piece is centered on a descending six-note motive heard first in the trombones at the beginning of the piece. As the piece progresses, this motive is gradually expanded and "refracted" through various harmonies, timbres, and textures. The initial ominous trombone theme evolves into a series of lyrical solos for the saxophones, oboes, and horns as the orchestration and harmony shifts kaleidoscopically around them. Eventually the trombones return to the foreground, but with new material: a brighter, optimistic chorale-like melody that propels the piece to its first major climax. However, the energy of the climax is quickly subdued, and the piece launches into a brisk tempo as the lyrical solos return, now set against a starry and shimmering percussive background.
From this point forward, Fractured Light unfolds as a dialogue between constantly evolving thematic transformations of the opening motive, spanning a wide breadth of emotional qualities from apprehensive to foreboding to joyous. Towards the conclusion, the chorale melody returns to carry the music to its radiant conclusion.
The work received its premiere by The Ohio State University Wind Ensemble, Russel Mikkelson, conductor, 16 February 2013.
- Program Note from publisher
Commissioned by Society of Composers, Inc. and ASCAP for Ohio State University Wind Ensemble, Dr, Russel C. Mikkelson, director
- Program Note from score
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Dallas Wind Symphony (Howard Dunn, conductor)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Kerr, conductor) – 20 February 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Southern Division Conference, Charleston, S.C.)
- James Madison (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephan Bolstad, conductor) - 27 March 2015 (2015 CBDNA National Conference, Nashville)
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Fractured Light (2012)
- Matsuri (2017/2020)
- Vicious Cycle (2014)