Climbing Parnassus

for wind ensemble
(2008)
Duration: 9'
PROFESSIONAL

Commissioned by:
Kawasaki Univ. of Medical Welfare "Heartful Winds"—Toshiya IWATA, conductor
Nagoya Wind Symphony—Mamoru NAKATA, conductor
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
Wind Ensemble KANADE—Kotai YO, conductor

for the 2008 Japan Wind Ensemble Conductors Conference, Kurashiki, Japan

2Fl, AFl, Ob, EHn, 4Cl, BCl, CbCl, Bsn, SSax, ASax, TSax, BSax, PiccTpt, 2Tpt, Flglhn, 2Hn, 2Trb, Euph, Tba, Cb, 5Perc (bowCrot / bowMar / bowVibr / 2HBells)

This work is in manuscript. Score available for sale from OK Feel Good Music.

In Aeschulus, Creon speaks of "the double peaks of snow-clad Parnassus"—the ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi, and the mountain most sacred to Apollo. As the home of The Muses, Parnassus is the spiritual source of music, poetry, and art. Centuries ago, when Greek and Latin were an integral part of a Western education, the phrase "Climbing Parnassus" meant the pursuit of a career as a poet, writer, composer, or artist. Dreamlike and spacious, Climbing Parnassus presents an imagined chorale fragment, ascending and transforming through an expanse of sound.

World Premiere 3/16/08, Kurashiki, Japan - Atsuhisa KONDO, conductor. Available for performance in Spring 2009, or for 2008-9 conference/convention U.S. Premiere

RECENT PERFORMANCES

Nagoya Wind Symphony, Aichi Arts Theatre Concert Hall, Nagoya, Japan, Mamoru NAKATA, conductor - May 05 2008

Heartful Winds, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Japan, Toshiya IWATA, conductor - Apr 20 2008

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, Tokyo, Japan, Masayuki Inagaki, conductor - Apr 11 2008