Description
Movements
I. Mountain Lake
II. Seagulls in Morning Light
III. Winter Forest
IV. Cottage by the Shore
Program Note
When conceiving of Scenes from Home, I had a strong desire to write music in response to specific images. I chose to use the artwork hanging in my own home as inspiration. I encounter these four paintings every day, and as a composer, I thought it only logical to give a soundtrack and a story to each. The paintings I have are all second-hand art, collected from thrift stores and previous owners who no longer wanted them. Consequently, I know little or nothing about their creators, but each work brings character to my home. Scenes from Home is, then, drawn literally from scenes in my own home, but the subject matter of each painting is very much something not in my home. Each of these images carries me out of my house to another place. Some remind me of specific places I have been, while others are truly only scenes I can imagine from these paintings. Scenes from Home explores not just what is literally depicted in the paintings, but what else I imagine is occurring – what would happen if we pressed “play” on each of these snapshots. I imagine wildlife struggling for survival, seagulls cawing as they soar, children playing on a summer vacation, waves roaring as they crash against the shore, and more. Scenes from Home brings each painting to life, allowing us to imagine each scene in action.
Performance Note
I recommend projecting the images along with each movement. If you purchase score and parts (PDF or paper copy), your order will come with downloadable electronic files of each image.
Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1, 2
Oboe 1, 2
English Horn
Clarinet in E♭
Clarinet in B♭ 1, 2, 3
Bass Clarinet in B♭
Bassoon 1, 2
Contrabassoon
Alto Saxophone 1, 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet in B♭ 1, 2, 3
Horn in F 1, 2, 3, 4
Trombone 1, 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani (timpani, crystal glasses)
Percussion 1 (bass drum, triangle, tenor drum, crotales, claves)
Percussion 2 (whip, marimba, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, triangle)
Percussion 3 (xylophone, vibraphone, crash cymbals)
Percussion 4 (tom-toms, crash cymbals, temple blocks, glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, ratchet)
