big sky

From the performance with the Montana State University Wind Symphony, Nathan Stark, Conductor

PROGRAM NOTES

The opening movement of my Symphony No. 2, Big Sky, is a reflection on the expanse of the sky in Montana. The movement is composed of the Song of the Sky, which is a loose inversion of the Song of the Mountain in the third and final movements. The opening phrase is a reflection of the night sky. On a clear night, the sky is full of stars, and the Milky Way is often visible. The chromatic modulations in the second part move up and down in a giant arc to mimic the expanse of the sky during the day. 

GRADE 4

Instrumentation: Picc., 2 Fl., 2 Ob., 3 Cl., Bs. Cl., Cb. Cl. (Opt. Ca. Cl.), Bsn., Cbsn. (Opt.), Sop. Sx., 2 Alt. Sx., Ten. Sx., Bar. Sx., 3 Tpt., 4 Hn., 2 Tbn., Bs. Tbn., Euph., Tba., Dbl. Bs., Timp., 5+ Perc.