Tears of St. Lawrence (flex)

Aaron Perrine

Subtitle: For Adaptive Instrumentation

General Info

Year: 2014 / 2020
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Longitude 91 Publications
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $65.00 | Score Only (print) - $25.00

Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Part 1

Flute
Oboe
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Trumpet
Violin

Part 2

B-flat Soprano Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet
Violin

Part 3

B-flat Soprano Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet
Horn in F
Violin
Viola

Part 4

Bassoon
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
Trombone
Euphonium
Horn in F
Cello

Part 5

Bassoon
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba

Piano
Timpani (optional)
Percussion, including:

Key Chimes
Mallets
Sizzle Cymbal
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Early last summer, my then five-year-old daughter became very interested in astronomy. She read every book in the library on the topic and became obsessed with the idea of seeing a falling star. After scanning the night sky for a few months with no success, she began to give up hope. Fortunately for all of us, the annual Perseids meteor shower -- often referred to as the “Tears of St. Lawrence” -- was quickly approaching.

One clear mid-August night, I woke my daughter a bit after midnight. Without telling her what was to come, we quietly made our way outside. After anxiously waiting for what felt like forever, we saw our first falling star together! In addition to the obvious sense of excitement, however, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nostalgic, because I knew that in a few short weeks, my daughter would be going to school for the first time. As we watched the stars, we took turns telling stories as we wondered what the next year would bring. Two hours and countless meteors later, I finally convinced my daughter to return to bed. Tears of St. Lawrence was inspired by the variety of emotions experienced during that memorable night.

Commissioned by the McFarland High School 9th Grade Concert Band, McFarland, Wisconsin (Joseph Hartson, Director).

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Dubuque (Iowa) Concert Band (Nolan Hauta, conductor) – 23 February 2022
University of Colorado Boulder Campus Band (Zach Cheever, conductor) - 14 April 2021

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Life Painting (Adaptable Band) (2019/2020)
Tears of St. Lawrence (Flex instrumentation) (2014/2020)

All Wind Works

All the Things I'm Not (2019)
Among the Aspens (2022)
And Sings the Tune Without the Words (2020)
April (2008)
Beneath a Canvas of Green (2012/2018)
Bluebonnet Drift (2021)
Child Moon (2017)
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (2018)
A Dream of Trees (2019)
Drifting (2022)
Fever Flash
Floral Larceny (2018)
Forever Radiant (2019)
A Glimpse of the Eternal (2016)
I was Just Looking at the World (2011)
In the Open Air, in the Silent Lines (2018)
In This Moment (2001/2011)
Inner Sanctum (2010)
Iris (2016)
It Has to Be Beautiful (2018)
Life Painting (2019)
Life Painting (Adaptable Band) (2019/2020)
The Long Light After Time (2022)
Move
Only Light (2014)
Pale Blue on Deep (2011)
Snap
Shimmer
Stained with Light
Tears of St Lawrence (2014)
Tears of St. Lawrence (Flex instrumentation) (2014/2020)
Temperance (2016)
...to the wind (2014)
Traces of Amber Sky (2018)
Vignettes of Mount Vernon (2022)

Resources

Aaron Perrine website Accessed 13 December 2020
Creative Repertoire Initiative
Perrine, A.; McFarland High School (Wisc.) (2014). Tears of St. Lawrence : (2014) [score]. Longitude 91 Publications:{Iowa?].
Perusal score