Event Horizon
General Info
Year: 2011
Duration: c. 9:35
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Joni Greene
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $250.00 | Score Only (digital) - $50.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Crotales
- Marimba
- Snare Drum
- Splash Cymbal
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-Tam
- Temple Blocks
- Tom-Tom (4)
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
In general relativity, an event horizon is a boundary surrounding a black hole inside which events cannot affect an outsider observer. Light emitted from inside the horizon can never reach the observer, and anything that passes through the horizon from the observer's side is never seen again.
The initial inspiration for Event Horizon was bursts of instrumental color in the form of harmonic clusters. After sitting with sketches of the work for a few weeks I imagined the idea of traveling in space towards a supernova. The beauty of the sun, planets and cosmic atmosphere are viewed during this journey. The climax of this celestial adventure takes place when the observed star moves from its main sequence toward supernova. I studied the process of fusion and gravity and imagined motives constantly interrupting each other. These motives develop and change as the process of fusion through heavier elements (hydrogen, helium, carbon) takes place. A layering of motives is interrupted by a single crotale which signifies the implosion of the star just before it reaches the supernova.
While the work could have ended at this point, the melodic build-up yearned for a slow descent featuring the delicate colors and textures possible of wind band. Thus the program continues toward the final resting place of a star, the black hole. The work concludes with a single flute flutter-tongue and resonating crotale that decay into the void of the event horizon.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Arizona (Tucson) Wind Ensemble (Chad R. Nicholson, conductor) - 29 April 2023
- Indiana University (Bloomington) Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) – 24 February 2018 (CBDNA 2018 North Central Conference, Kalamazoo, Mich.)
- University of Kansas (Lawrence) Wind Ensemble (Paul Popiel, conductor) – 2 November 2012 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Cameron's Dream (2015/2016)
- Circean Waters (2009)
- The Dawnland (2017)
- Enigma Machine (2013)
- Event Horizon (2011)
- Glow (2018)
- In the Stillness (2017)
- The Moon Glistens (2104)
- Moonscape Awakening (2010)
- Net Luck Soaring (2011/2015)
- Out of the Shadows, Love Shines (2017)
- The Persistence of Memory (2020)
- Reaching Nirvana (2021)
- Suspended in a Sunbeam (2022)
Resources
- The Horizon Leans Forward..., compiled and edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung, GIA Publications, 2021, p. 341.
- Joni Greene website
- Perusal score