Description
Duration 4:35 min
---------------------------
Composed by Alan Lourens, this reflective and poignant work brings to our minds all those who have suffered during Australia's many deadly bushfires in recent years. This is a very mature-sounding work that is approachable for community bands and advanced high school groups alike. It presents both the tragedy of loss through bushfire, and the hope of life returning and the resilience of everyday Aussies.
Alan's superb grasp of harmony and his outstanding pacing of melodic movement both come to the fore in this piece, which will be a wonderful addition to the repertoire at this level for bands wanting to reflect on Australian life during bushfire season.
Program Notes:
Indigenous Australians have been managing land with the use of fire for thousands of years. Much of the Australian ecology depends on fire for renewal and regrowth. As human interaction, encroachment and climate change have brought change to the continent, Australians have been forced to find different ways to engage with the bush, and to manage in what can often be a hostile environment
“Rising Through the Ashes” is an elegy to the bushfires that have ravaged Australia, but also a pinprick of hope that we can learn to work with our environment. The human spirit that follows any natural disaster – bushfires, earthquakes, floods – is one of hope and community. Like a phoenix, the people of Australia rise after these events, learn from the experience and move forward. - Alan Lourens
Instrumentation: Fl 1 2, Ob 1 2, Bsn, Bb Cl 1 2 3, Bs Cl, A Sx 1 2, T Sx, B Sx, F Hn 1 2 3 4, Tpt 1 2 3, Tbn 1 2, Bs Tbn, Euph (BC & TC), Tba, Dbl Bs, Tymp, Sn Dr, Bs Dr, Cym, Field Drum