Nebulae
Wind Ensemble 12’ Grade 4.5 2023
Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1 & 2
Oboe 1 & 2
Bassoon 1 & 2
Contrabassoon (opt.)
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet 1 - 3
Bass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Horn in F 1 - 4
Bb Trumpet 1 - 3
Trombone 1 & 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium 1 & 2
Tuba 1 & 2
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion 1 - 5
Winner of the 2023 Adelaide Wind Orchestra Composition Contest
Program Notes
A nebula is a celestial cloud of interstellar gas, dust, and plasma that drifts through the vast expanse of space. These wonders of nature are often adorned with breathtaking hues of red, blue, and yellow and have captured the imagination of astronomers for centuries.
Nebulæ consists of 3 movements and one interlude, each inspired by a different nebula. They are as follows:
I. One Giant Leap
This movement is inspired by the Eagle Nebula located approximately 7,000 light-years away from earth. The movement captures the spirit of space exploration with the determination to reach for distant galaxies. It pays tribute to the countless men and women who took an infinite number of small steps which resulted in one giant leap for humankind when the Eagle Lunar Module touched down on the surface of the moon in 1969.
II. Light-years of Stars on a Sleepless Bed
Drawing inspiration from the Southern Owl Nebula situated in the constellation of Hydra, this movement takes the form of a nocturne. Shadows seem to creep and descend upon the streets like ink. The city holds her breath and bathes in the lunar light of midnight's embrace. The darkness beckons. The constellations sing. A sea of distant candles flicker, and the city contemplates her place in the cosmos as the stars begin to fade.
Stampede (Interlude)
This short interlude is inspired by the Horsehead Nebula, a dark nebula first recorded in 1888. The movement portrays a herd of wild horses galloping towards the listener, then overtaking them in a dramatic finish.
III. The Ghost of Jupiter
Inspired by the Ghost of Jupiter Nebula, this movement pays homage to Holst's The Planets, serving as an elegy for his Bringer of Jollity. Its sombre tones gradually give way to a sense of hope and, in the melancholy radiance, there is a chance for something new to be born. A new understanding of the universe, guided by the memory of what was. The infinite galaxy waiting patiently to be embroidered with the colours of a new æon.
Performance Notes
This score makes extensive use of niente hairpins as shorthand for crescendos and decrescendos to and from a niente dynamic. The composer recognises that the execution of this dynamic marking may vary based on the instrument being played, and as such performers should aim to begin or end these crescendos and decrescendos as softly as possible, rather than striving for complete silence (unless, of course, it can be achieved!)
Bar 25 of the second movement has the instruction "Senza misura" meaning "without measure". This bar should not be beaten by the conductor (hence the cancellation of the time signature) but instead, a signal should be given for each of the four numbers provided - spaced approximately evenly. Players should begin playing at the conductor's instruction, but once playing they need not keep strict time. It may be advisable for the Vibraphone player to employ two bows instead of just one to help facilitate the playing of this section. The indication of 20 seconds duration for this measure is approximate only.
Boxed notation in the Percussion 5 part should be repeated at the players own tempo for the duration of the line succeeding it, with the freedom for the player to speed up and slow down as desired. The player should attempt to line up the last repeat of this figure such that it flows directly into the sustained D at measure 24.
Notes on unusual percussion:
For an owl call, acoustic methods are preferred over pre-recorded options. Blowing across an empty bottle or cupped hands can approximate the call (practice may be needed for the latter, but there are numerous online resources that explain the technique and with some practice one might find this to be fairly reliable). Using a manufactured owl call designed for hunting turkeys, such as the Hoot Flute Owl Call by Primos Hunting, provides a more realistic sound and this is my preferred method.
The owl call should be loud enough to be clearly heard amidst other sound effects. There are many options other than those listed above, which may be preferable for your group, so ultimately, I will leave the decision of how to produce an owl call up to the creativity of your percussion section.
Regarding the use of a Tree Branch, it is recommended to use an actual branch from a tree, preferably one with abundant leaves. Wave the branch slowly back and forth, resembling flag-waving, to achieve the desired effect.
If a tree branch is unavailable or impractical, a rain stick can be used instead. To maintain a consistent sound until the end of the Senza Misura bar, begin by holding the rain stick parallel to the ground, and then lift one end only slightly, while rotating the rain stick around its central axis (the imaginary line passing through the centre of the rain stick's length.) Once the end of the Senza Misura bar is reached, slowly stop rotating the rain stick, and return it to a horizontal position so that the sound is cut off.
World Premiere:
Adelaide Wind Orchestra
Conducted by Bryan Griffiths
Sunday 4 June, 2023 (first movement)
Friday 16 June, 2023 (full suite)
Published by Matt Klohs
(early 2024)