Mountain Prayers

Timothy Mahr

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General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 8:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Masters Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $110.00; (digital) - $15.00 | Score Only (print) - $20.00

Instrumentation

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Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Mountain Prayers was one of three pieces commissioned by Calvin College for the retirement of their conductor, Dr. Derald De Young, after 27 years of dedication. Each commission was to be inspired by a mountain he had hiked. Mountain Prayers represents Longs Peak, which is one of the highest amongst the Rocky Mountains.

The composer writes:

Mountain Prayers begins withj a shimmering cluster – the face of the mountain as seen from below – followed by a Prayer of Memory. The latter is dawn of humankind. This is a sombre prayer, reflecting my thoughts about our modern encroachment of Longs Peak and other great mountains. Over the past few centuries, we've laid claim to mountains that for thousands of years have been important spiritually to other peoples. A bit later on in the piece, one hears a Prayer of Vision which exalts the views that are possible from the summit – one can seemingly "see forever." More importantly, after the climb, one tends to see within oneself with greater clarity as well. A Prayer of Hope: The Call follows, which is music that I imagined to emanate from on high, calling all to noble action. After this exhilaration, a brief reprise of the Prayer of Memory again grounds the work. A closing Prayer of Hope: Acceptance is our response to the mountain – our "letting-in" of the messages it holds for us.

- Program Note from California State University, Fresno, Wind Orchestra concert program, 15 March 2021

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP II

Performances

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California State University Bakersfield Concert Band (Leo Sakamoto, conductor) – 6 October 2019
California State University, Fresno, Wind Orchestra (Adam Wilke, conductor) – 15 March 2012 (CBDNA 2012 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)
Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Band (Derald DeYoung, conductor) – April 2005 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adoramus Te, Christe (as arranger)
and in this dream there were eight windows... (2003)
Appalachian Folk Dream (2016)
Argentum (1986)
Blue Sky Day (2006)
Bridge Square March (2005)
Bright Side (2015/2018)
Carolina Folk Dream
Climb the Castle Walls! (2011)
Dauntless (2015)
Daydream (1989)
Diamond Celebration (2009)
Dig Down Deep (2013)
Endurance (1991)
Etched in Stone (2018)
Everyday Hero (2011)
Fanfare and Grand March (1980)
Fantasia in G (1982)
Festivals
Fields of Grain as Seen From a Train (2008)
Flourish (2000)
GF Redux: "It's Yours", from A Jack Stamp Suite (2017)
Heroic Rhapsody (2009)
Heroic Valor (2009)
Hey! (2001/2005)
Honoris Causa (2009)
Hymn and Celebration (1994)
Imagine, If You Will... (2013)
Imagining Peace (2018)
Immigrant Dreams (1992)
Imprints
Inaugural Dances (2006)
Into the Air! (1998)
Look In/Look Out (2018)
A Mighty March (2003)
Mountain Prayers (2006)
Mourning Dances (2001)
Mr. Kallman (2019)
Noble Element (2007)
Passages (1984)
Pride, Promise and Progress (2009)
A Quiet Place To Think (1999)
Retreat, from All Hail the Power (2002)
The Soaring Hawk (1991)
Sol Solator (2009)
Spirits Ablaze (2013)
Spring Divertimento (1992)
Suite for Band (2014)
Symphony No. 1 (2016)
Uncle Lumpy's Garage (2005)
Urgent Voices (2020)
The View from the Mountaintop (1996)
When I Close My Eyes, I See Dancers (1997)

Resources

Mahr Music Press website Accessed 18 January 2020