Falling Sky
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General Info
Year: 2020
Duration: c. 20:50
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Symphony
Publisher: Subito Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Movements
1. - 4:25
2. – 4:10
3. – 4:00
4. – 4:00
Instrumentation
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Falling Sky is a four-movement work for concert band inspired by the crisis at the southern border concerning the treatment of migrants seeking asylum at the hands of the U.S. government.
The first movement is intended to depict migration itself, its hardships, sacrifices, and the labor of the journey into the unknown. In the second movement, the migrants reach the border, submit to processing and appeal for mercy, only to be judged unworthy and forced into detention. The third movement is a rage of anguish and despair, expressing terror, anger, and humiliation at confinement without charge or due process. The final movement is an attempt to find some measure of solace or optimism for the future in spite of the present situation.
Specifically, the inspiration was images in the media of children playing seesaw through the border fence, on pink seesaws designed by visual artists as a way to demonstrate how humanity remains capable of transcending its tendency toward division and persecution.
Stylistically, the piece is deliberately diverse, drawing on both classical and contemporary forms and harmonies. The first movement is straight-forward mood music, depicting solemness and slow, heavily-burdened travel that is led by hope. The second movement uses hip-hop because of its link to social justice and because its harmonies and rhythms are so effective at depicting aggression. The third movement is equally aggressive but in ways more traditional to concert music. The fourth movement is a hopeful, melancholic hallucination, and so its harmony and approach is post-modern with influences of minimalism.
- Program Note by Michael Colburn
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Butler University (Indianapolis, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Michael Colburn, conductor) – 1 March 2020 *Wind Ensemble Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Falling Sky (2019)
Resources
- "Abels: Falling Sky Premieres." Subito Music Corporation. Web. Accessed 2 March 2020
- Colburn, Michael. (untitled). Butler University Wind Ensemble, 9 January 2020. Web. Accessed 2 March 2020
- Michael Abels website Accessed 1 March 2020