"Aurora Borealis" - composed for orchestra

In a review published in the "Journal of the International Alliance for Women in Music", Dr. Margaret Lucia wrote: “Aurora Borealis"…is a strong, well-crafted orchestral…fanfare and is very clearly Stroobach's signature work. Prominent timpani and brass are answered by violins in an antiphonal style. The middle section is somewhat reminiscent of Bartok's "Game of Pairs" (the second movement of his "Concerto for Orchestra") in the angular, intervallic writing for bassoon and clarinet.”

"Aurora Borealis" is written in the tradition of a Franz Liszt tone poem - a one movement programmatic work. The rhythmic motive of the sixteenth note followed by the quarter note, which is heard throughout, conveys the majesty and awe one feels when viewing the Northern Lights. The more sparsely orchestrated middle section blends the different woodwinds together with the strings, to illustrate the beautiful colours of the Northern Lights. I also deliberately used the higher pitches in many of the instruments to represent the fact that the magnificent display of the Aurora Borealis is high up in the heavens. 

"Aurora Borealis" was performed and recorded onto a compact disc of the same name (https://collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Composer-Showcase.aspx?component=AF-Query-Composer&record=eb48a3f6-04d5-42cd-9de6-092a8b5ca83f&lang=en-CA) by the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro David Currie. This project was awarded funding from FACTOR (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records), the Council for the Arts in Ottawa and the Corel Endowment for the Arts.

Since this recording "Aurora Borealis" has received seventeen performances by leading orchestras across Canada and Europe and has been broadcasted on radio stations around the world.

Evelyn Stroobach is a professional musician and an award winning, published composer. She is currently a PhD candidate in Music Composition in the UK. Stroobach has won regional, national and international awards for her works.  Recently, Stroobach was honoured in the Senate and the House of Commons at the Houses of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada for her participation as composer on the newly released "Aboriginal Inspirations" CD (www.musiccentre.ca/node/147580).

Read her full bio here:
https://collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Composer-Showcase.aspx?component=AAIL&record=eb48a3f6-04d5-42cd-9de6-092a8b5ca83f

Aurora Borealis

Evelyn Stroobach - Aurora Borealis

Association of Canadian Women Composers

The ACWC is a professional organization for Canadian women composers, their supporters, and the performers of their music.

Evelyn Stroobach - Aurora Borealis

ACWC / ACC