Radiant Moonbeams

David Gillingham

General Info

Year: 2007
Duration: c. 5:20
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00 | Score Only (print) - $15.00

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
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bells
Chimes
Marimba
Suspended Cymbal
Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Radiant Moonbeams was commissioned by Durham Middle School Bands, Lewisville, Texas, in memory of Christy Hoong, a friend and flute player in the band. Considering Christy's Chinese heritage, I chose an old Chinese folk song, Shao Hua Tang Shue (Gently Flowing Stream) to be used as the basis for the melodic material in the work. I was struck by this love song's simple pentatonic beauty, and I couldn't help but think that the words could easily transfer to the thoughts of how the band members now visualize their friend, Christy Hoong, in the "moonlight of the heavens," so to speak.

The work begins with a quiet and mysterious introduction based on harmonic clusters comprised of the first four notes of the folk song. Following, the solo flute “sings” the first two phrases of the melody of the folk song ("Radiant moonbeams brighten the heavens tonight, I dream of my sweetheart in the moonlight.") in pentatonic G-minor accompanied by flowing lines in the flutes, clarinets, bells and vibraphone. Solo trumpet states the middle section of the song ("I see her clear image in the moon's path. Sweetheart dear, dear,") and flutes play the final phrase ("tiny stream flows gently in the forest glen."). A developmental episode ensues which utilizes material from the folk song. A transition leads to a flowing melody in pentatonic F major that is a sort of metamorphosis of the folk song melody. The melody is intended to represent Christy's cross over into the afterlife. There is then a return to the folk song in D minor which rises to a climax, subsides, and is followed by the tolling of bells, a final phrase by the solo flute and three final bell tolls in D Major.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Argyle High School Wind Ensemble (Kathy K. Johnson, conductor) - 2007

State Ratings

Kansas: III
Louisiana: III
Oregon: IV-A
Texas: III. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Brevard (N.C.) College Wind Ensemble (Chris Center, conductor) – 15 March 2018
Eastern Oregon District 6 Honor Band – 7 November 2017
East Tennessee State University (Johnson City) Concert Band (Christian Zembower, conductor) - 24 February 2011
University of Nevada (Reno) Symphonic Band (Mark Wolbers, conductor) – 20 March 2008 (CBDNA 2008 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)
Argyle (Tx.) High School Wind Ensemble (Kathy K. Johnson, conductor) – 20 December 2007 (2007 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Appalachian Counterpoint (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
At Morning's First Light (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2020)
Scherzo d'Espoir (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Three Ships (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

Abiquiu (2010)
Aerodynamics (2003)
America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/2018)
And Can It Be? (2000)
Angels of the Apocalypse (2013)
Apocalyptic Dreams (1995)
Appalachian Counterpoint (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Assurance
At Evening's First Star (2019)
At Morning's First Light (2004)
At Morning's First Light (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2020)
Au Sable River Festival (2002)
Be Thou My Vision (1999)
Bells of Freedom (2002)
Beneath the Sacred Light (2015)
Bright Gleams a Beacon (2012)
Cantus Laetus (2001)
Century Variants (2009)
Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1997)
Concerto for Euphonium, Winds and Percussion (2009)
Concerto for Woodwind Quintet and Wind Ensemble (1984/2006)
Concerto No. 2 for Marimba and Wind Ensemble (2008)
Concerto for Piano, Percussion and Wind Orchestra (arr. Fisher) (2005)
Council Oak (2002)
A Crescent Still Abides (1998)
Crest of Honor (2005)
Double F Fanfare (2008)
Drums of Rwanda (2014)
The Echo Never Fades (2004)
Finale, from All Hail the Power
Fire up
Foster's America (2003)
Foundations (2017)
Galactic Empires (1998)
Glorified (2010)
Heroes, Lost and Fallen (1990)
Homage (2012)
Home Again (2016)
Internal Combustion (1999)
Intrada Jubilante (1979/1999)
Jeju Memoir (2019)
Joyau (2019)
Keep Silence (2004)
Kentucky Home (2012)
Light Unto the Darkness, A (1997)
New Century Dawn (1999)
No Shadow of Turning (2005)
Point of Reckoning (arr. Daughtrey) (2015)
Providence (2003)
Quintessence I (1997)
Quintessence II (2006)
Radiant Moonbeams (2007)
Sails of Time (2006)
Scherzo d'Espoir (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Serenade for Winds and Percussion (2000)
Seven Bagatelles (2014)
Song Shall Never End, The (2014)
Sub-Saharan Rhythm (1998)
Symphony No. 2 (2007)
Three Ships (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Vintage (1990)
Vital Signs of Planet Earth (2015)
Waking Angels (1997)
When Speaks the Signal Trumpet Tone (1999)
While the Dew is Still on the Roses (2013)
With Heart and Voice (2000)

Resources

Gillingham, D. (2007). Radiant Moonbeams [score]. C. Alan Publications: Greensboro, N.C.