Lark in the Clear Air, The

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Clifton Taylor

Traditional, setting by Clifton Taylor

General Info

Year: 2011
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: III +(see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Grand Mesa Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $50.00   |   Score Only - $8.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III (opt. flugelhorn solo)
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

• Bells
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This setting of The Lark in the Clear Air was written for the Mississippi State University Wind Ensemble for their May 2008 concert tour of Ireland and England. The melody is the traditional Irish folk tune Caisleán U, Neil. It was collected by Lady Ferguson in the west of Ireland, and appears in the book A Song For Ireland by Mary O’Hara.

- Program Note by Cal State Los Angeles Wind Ensemble

The associated lyrics are attributed to Sir Samuel Ferguson of Belfast, circa 1850:

Dear thoughts are in my mind
And my soul soars enchanted,
As I hear the sweet lark sing
In the clear air of the day.
For a tender beaming smile
To my hope has been granted,
And tomorrow she shall hear
All my fond heart would say.

I shall tell her all my love,
All my soul's adoration,
And I think she will hear
And will not say me nay.
It is this that gives my soul
All its joyous elation,
As I hear the sweet lark song
In the clear air of the day.

In this, his first published work, Mississippi composer Taylor has created an expressive masterpiece for band. Based on a traditional Irish folk song, an extended bird-like flute solo is used to introduce and decorate the main melody, first presented in solo flugelhorn. After a series of intriguing, well-scored episodes, the work climaxes in a powerful tutti statement.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio CD: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Wind Symphony (Shawn L. Barat, conductor) - 2011

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Loveland (Colo.) High School Wind Symphony (Kyle Freesen, conductor) - 2 March 2023
• Heisey Wind Ensemble (Newark, Ohio) (Russel Mikkelson, conductor) - 20 October 2022
• University of Findlay (Ohio) Symphonic Band (Wes King, conductor) - 7 March 2021
• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Symphonic Band (Randall O. Coleman, conductor) – 25 November 2019
• University of Northern Colorado (Greeley) Wind Ensemble (Don L. Peterson, conductor) - 7 March 2019 (84th Annual ABA National Convention)
• St. Louis (Mo.) Wind Symphony (Thomas Poshak, conductor) - 11 November 2018
• California State University, Los Angeles, Wind Ensemble (Emily Moss, conductor) – 11 October 2018
• Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Symphonic Band (Kirk Saville, conductor) – 7 November 2017
• Encore Concert Band (Mokena, Ill.) (Bill Schuetter, conductor; Jackie Isely, flute) – 15 October 2017
• Murrieta Valley High School (Murrieta, Calif.) Wind Ensemble I (Neil Anderson, conductor) - 19 February 2015 (2015 CMEC Conference, Fresno)
• California State University, Los Angeles, Wind Ensemble (Emily Moss, conductor) - CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Convention (Reno, Nev.) 13 March 2014
• North Coast Symphonic Band (Astoria, Ore.) (John Hammond, conductor) - 28 October 2012
• Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (Jacksonville, Fla.) Wind Symphony (Paula Thornton, conductor) – 14 December 2011 (2011 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

• Concertpiece (2018)
• Five Mississippi Rush (2019)
• The Lark in the Clear Air (2011)
• O vos omnes (as transcriber) (2012)
• Slidin' Down the Mississippi (as arranger) (2013)

Resources

None discovered thus far.