Description
Duration ca. 9'
Composed in 2018/2019 in Newcastle, Australia for the Newcastle Youth Orchestra
Reorchestrated in 2024 in Piteå, Sweden for Norrbottens Ungdomssymfoniker
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In 2018/2019 I was commissioned by the Newcastle Youth Orchestra (NYO) to compose an original work inspired by the city of Newcastle, Australia. Originally from Canberra, I had moved to Newcastle in 2014 for tertiary studies in composition where I joined NYO as an oboist (the orchestra was only in its second year of operation). When it came to composing this piece, I took the opportunity to reflect on the past five years of my life, in a city that had become like a second home, hence the title which paid homage to the demonym "novocastrian".
"Novocastria", first and foremost is a fanfare, its rhythmic and melodic motifs generating an energetic and jubilant celebration of music. The careful listener may also notice the sounds of tugboats and cargo ships sailing in and around the harbour at noon.
Instrumentation
Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons
2 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in Bb, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (3 players)
- Snare Drum
- Tambourine
- Suspended Cymbal
- Crash Cymbals
- Tam-tam
- Tubular Bells
Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass