Before the Sun

Julie Giroux

General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 4:15
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts - $85.00 | Score Only - $18.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
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-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Orchestra Chimes
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone I-II

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Before the Sun is a descriptive piece about a large family who lives on a country farm. The piece focuses on all the emotional and physical events which happen before the sun rises and after it sets. The beginning of the piece opens with the ending hours of night. The first light from the farmhouse reflects off the morning dew. The family cats and dogs gather at the back door in anticipation of breakfast scraps and affections. Parents stand in their children’s bedroom doorways, enjoying watching them sleep, waiting just an extra minute before beginning the day. The buildup to sunrise begins. The piano solo depicts the silence of not just the family but of nature and the world itself, like one giant entity holding its breath in a moment of respect and awe waiting to experience the sunrise. The first rays of light commence and grows into the full glory of day with the sun’s theme. Daytime doesn’t last long and fades out, which begins the wind-down of the day. The lullaby represents children falling asleep and exhausted parents doing likewise. The piece ends with a recap of the sun’s theme as a promise of its return.

- Program Note from composer's prologue

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: University of North Texas Symphonic Band - 2014

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Gold Campus Band (Seth Davis, conductor; David Carillo, violin) -- 27 February 2023
University of Iowa (Iowa City) Concert Band (Myron Peterson, conductor) - 18 February 2023
University of Alberta (Edmonton) Concert Band (Daryl Price, conductor) – 24 March 2019
Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Va.) Wind Ensemble (Christopher Dobbins, conductor; Andrew Block, violin) – 4 April 2017
Bullard (Calif.) High School Wind Ensemble (Matthew Carroll, conductor) - 11 March 2016 (2016 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
Valley Wind Ensemble (San Ynez, Calif.) (Sharon Jeskey, conductor) - 22 March 2014 (2014 Sutherland Wind Festival, Fresno, Calif.)
James Logan High School (Union City, Calif.) Wind Symphony (Adam R. Wilke, conductor) - 21 March 2014 (2014 Sutherland Wind Festival, Fresno, Calif.)
Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.) High School Wind Ensemble I (Jonathan Grantham, conductor) - 19 December 2013 (2013 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

The Bonsai Tree (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
Opa! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
A Time to Dance (2006) (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

Across the Isle of Skye
Af-free-kah! (2013)
All Good Things (2003)
All Through the Night (as arranger) (2011)
Always (2019)
Amaranthine (2008)
Appalachian Portrait (2017)
Arcus IX
The Ash Grove (2019)
Autumn Rose (2017)
Away in a Manger (as arranger) (2011)
Before the Sun (2013)
Beyond Measure (2023)
Beyond the Gates (2022)
The Bench by the Sea (2017)
The Blue Marble (2022)
The Bonsai Tree (2010)
Bookmarks from Japan (2013)
Boston Liberties (2003)
Burning the Wickerman (2020)
Carnaval! (2013)
Celestial Seas (2014)
Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion (as arranger) (2015)
Christmas and Sousa Forever (as arranger) (2010)
Christmas Toons (2012)
Christmas with Mozart (2007)
Circus Franticus (2001)
Córdoba (2013)
Crown of Thorns (1998)
Culloden (2000)
- Culloden I and II
- Culloden III
Dragon Sky (2015)
Dream Dancer (2005)
The Elements. See: Symphony No. 5
Empire (2006)
An Epic Fanfare. See: Three Fanfares
Fantasy in French (2012)
Fields of Gold (2019)
The First Noel (as arranger)
Fort McHenry Suite (2000)
Freedom Rising (2017)
Glenbury Grove (2009)
Glorious Light (2019)
Godspeed (2023)
The Grace in Being (2013)
The Greatest Generation (2002)
Hands of Mercy (2001)
HardDrive (2010)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
Hark! Those Bells Are Smokin’ (2011)
The Hearthstone (2016)
Husaria Cavalry Overture (2006)
Hymn for the Innocent (2016)
I Got Rhythm for Christmas (2012)
Il Burlone (2000)
I'll Be Home A'fore Ye (2006)
I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
I'll Be Home for Christmas (as arranger) (1943/)
Imbizo (2007)
Impressions (2013)
In My Father's Eyes (2017)
In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/2018)
Incantations (2019)
Integrity Fanfare and March
Italian Rhapsody (2005)
Jerusalem (as arranger)
Jingle Them Bells (as arranger) (1857/2011)
Journey Through Orion (2006)
Just Flyin'! (2015)
K2 (2012)
Kalanu (2002)
Khan (2008)
La Mezquita de Córdoba (2005)
Legacy (2011)
Let Your Spirit Sing (2003)
The Little Drummer Boy's Bolero
Louisiana Parish Sketches (2001)
Mambo Perro Loco (2008)
March of the Sun Dried Tomatoes (2000)
Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
Medalist Fanfare (2013)
Mile High (2023)
Moonshine. See: Shine
Movin' on Down the Line (2009)
My Soul to Keep (2019)
Mystery on Mena Mountain (1985)
Mythic (2021)
The Nature of the Beast (2001)
Nearer, My God, To Thee (as arranger) (2010)
Nihonbashi. See: Market Bridge
No Finer Calling (2006)
No Man's Land (2017)
Nothing That Is (2000)
Nutcracker Fantasia (as arranger) (1891/2012)
O Holy Night (arr. Giroux) (1847/2011)
Of Blood and Stone (2015)
Of Silence and Sparrows (2022)
One Life Beautiful (2010)
One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
One Torch, Two Women, Three Ships and Men Rejoicing (2011)
Opa! (2018)
Ouachita (1987)
Our Cast Aways (2018)
Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
Outlander (2010)
Overture in Five Flat (2010)
Paprikash (2014)
Peter Patapan (2011)
Poseidon (2010)
Primality 2006)
Prisoner of the Ring (1986)
Radiant Shadows (2016)
Rain Softly on Me (2022)
The Red Baron Drummer
Riften Wed (2013)
River Shannon (2020)
Shadow Falls (2013)
Shine (2017)
Silent Night in Gotham (as arranger) (1818/2009)
Space Symphony (1986/1991)
The Speed of Heat (2010)
Stealing Home (2016)
A Stocking Full of Composers (2009)
Strathcona Suite (2012)
Sun Catcher (2022)
Swashbuckler (2010)
Symphony No. 1. See: Culloden
Symphony No. 2. See: A Symphony of Fables
Symphony No. 3. See: No Finer Calling
Symphony No. 4. See: Bookmarks from Japan
Symphony No. 5 (2017)
Symphony No. 6. see: The Blue Marble
A Symphony of Fables (2006)
Taboo for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
Three Fanfares (2003)
Three Wise Guys (2011)
Tiger Tail March (2000)
A Time to Dance (2006)
To Walk with Wings (2000)
Trillium
The Twelve Days of Christmas (2012)
The Twelve Gallon Hat (2013)
Under the Influence (2022)
Under the Willow (2015)
A Very Merry Heart and Soul
Vigils Keep (2005)
Vortex (2015)
Wagon Trail (2003)
West Wind Overture (2012)
What Child Is That Playing Carol of the Bells? (as arranger) (2011)
What Goes in the Night (2000)
When Country Comes to Town (2008)
Where the Red Fern Grows (2016)
Wild West Overture
Winter from "The Four Seasons" (as arranger) (1725/)
Without You
Wolves in Moonlight (2019)
Zephyr, Chorale and Dance (2012)

Resources

Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021
Perusal score