Into the Silent Land (Orchestra)
Into the Silent Land (Orchestra)
Grade 4
This work, scored for orchestra and narrator, reflects on the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. The piece blends elements of a funeral march and a lament, and near the end of the piece a moving poem is read over the music by a narrator. (This work is also available for wind band here)
Pricing
Printed Score Only: $35
Printed Score + Printed Parts: $189.99
Printed Score + Digital PDF Parts: $189.99
Details
Grade 4 – Orchestra*
Year of Composition: 2017-18
Length: 9:00
*Note on Narration Part: When I wrote Into the Silent Land, I did not have a particular “voice” in mind for the narrator. I liked the idea of leaving this part of the work open to interpretation, and allowing ensembles to bring their own ideas to the work. However, I did not expect ensembles to use a child as a narrator. In my opinion, a member of the performing ensemble (high school age or older) or an adult voice is most appropriate.
Program Note
On December 14, 2012, twenty children and six educators were killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Having grown up in Sandy Hook just a mile from the school, this is where I attended grades 3-5.
For the past several years, I have thought about writing a piece of music that would reflect on this tragedy, but I have struggled to know where to start. Even after beginning to sketch out ideas for this piece, I felt unsure of where the piece should go and what it should communicate. In an effort to find a clearer sense of direction, I searched for poetry that reflected how I was feeling.
When I came across “Remember,” a moving poem by Christina Rossetti, I found the direction I was looking for. Through the simple idea of remembering—not forgetting that this happened, not forgetting these children, not forgetting the grief that their families must feel—I realized this is what I wanted and needed to communicate through music.
The music incorporates elements of a funeral march, as well as a lament, using a descending tetrachord as a ground bass. The funeral march and the lament are combined early in the piece and after the ground bass repeats and grows to a climax, the funeral march gradually fades and a more ethereal music emerges.
“Into the Silent Land” was commissioned by a consortium of schools and individuals led by Dr. Jared Chase and Nazareth College.
Consortium Members
Arnold Alconcel, James B. Castle High School
Brenton F. Alston, Florida International University Wind Ensemble
Daniel A. Belongia, Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Michael Black, Franklin College Wind Ensemble
Trae Blanco, University of Southern Maine Wind Ensemble
Jared Chase, Nazareth College Wind Symphony
Reed Chamberlin, The Nevada Wind Ensemble, University of Nevada, Reno
Max E. Chernick, Bloomington High School Wind Symphony, Bloomington, Illinois
Randall Coleman, University of Alabama
Jacquie Dawson, University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble
Christopher Dobbins, Washington and Lee University
Matthew R. Doiron, Western Connecticut State University Symphonic Band
Chad Dempsey, Edinburg North High School, Edinburg, Texas
Michael P. Flynn, Conductor
Branden Hansen, Roseburg High School Wind Ensemble
Duane Hill, Texas Tech University Concert Band
Gregory J. Kane, Canandaigua Academy Wind Ensemble
Daniel Kirk, Reinhardt University Wind Ensemble
Eric M. Laprade, South Shore Conservatory Summer Music Festival
Matthew M. Marsit, Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble
Rick Murphy, Tupelo High School Bands
John Oelrich, University of Tennessee at Martin Wind Ensemble
Andy Pease, Hartwick College
Anthony Rivera, Santa Clara University Wind Ensemble
Lauren Reynolds, University of Delaware Wind Ensemble
Joshua Roach, The College of New Jersey Wind Ensemble
Mark Davis Scatterday, The Eastman Wind Ensemble
Robert M. Schwartz, Washburn University Wind Ensemble
Timothy Shade, Wichita State University
Mark Spede, Clemson University
Aaron Staebell, Greece Central Schools District Honor Band
Todd Stalter, Eureka High School Band
William Tiberio, University of Rochester Wind Ensemble
Steven D. Ward, Abilene Christian University
Kelly Watkins, Eastern Connecticut State University Wind Ensemble
Matthew Westgate, University of Massachusetts - Amherst Wind Ensemble
Grade 5
A 2-minute fanfare that includes a musical canon, this work is available for wind band, orchestra, string orchestra, or flexible instrumentation.