Intrada 1631 was inspired by a concert of early South American liturgical music directed by Jeffery Skidmore at the Dartington International Summer Music School in the summer of 2001. One of the most moving and memorable works in the programme was a Hanacpachap cussicuinin, a 17th century catholic liturgical chant written in Quechua, the native language of the Incas. The music was composed by a Franciscan missionary priest called Juan Perez Bocanegra who lived and worked in Cuzco (Peru), a small village east of Lima in the Jauja Valley during the early 17th century. Intrada 1631 uses Bocanegra's 20 bar hymn as the basis for an expanded processional scored for the modern forces of a symphonic brass choir with field drums.

01 Montague  Intrada 1631

This is the 2nd movement of a work written for my mother's 80th birthday, this work explores the complex relationships between mother and child.

The Beauty Of Now Movt 2 Mix 1

"Yukon Sunrise"

a free gift
a dawn I did not ask to see
flooding through the window at a quarter to four

held in amber light
filled and thrilled anew 
with life
I rise
I swim downstairs through honey-coloured air
and softly tread the wooden floor
slide back the crossbar from the door
and step outside

mosquitoes sing the morning chorus
and I wander through the grass
and turn toward the north
where heavy folds of hills and clouds
are stained with gold
and everything glows darkly in the morning light
forest
river
sky
water gliding swiftly past the bank
and dancing in the nearby creek
and softly softly tapping the treetops

the sunrise drowns itself in daylight
the overcasting sky turns ashy white
all beauty pales before the miracle of life

for what does it cost to burn the clouds?
to melt the river?
to raise the spruce?
to feed the birds and pollinate the flowers?
to wake the sleeper?
ouch
I slap my arm absent-mindedly
and leave a trail of blood


© David John Lang 2016
Inspired by the sunrise of the 21st July 2016 at Slaven’s Roadhouse, near Coal Creek on the Yukon River, Alaska.

Adelaide Wind Orchestra, 22 March 2018.
Conductor: David John Lang
Recording: Ray Thomas
Assistant: Adam Gillespie
Producer: Anne Cawrse

Yukon Sunrise

There are many examples of sacred works depicting a person's aspiration to elevate themselves through prayer. "A Light is Sown for the Pious" flips this notion around and rather sees this individual looking inward for solace, acknowledging their humanity and their fallibility in the presence of G-d.

Based on the Kabbalist prayer "Ana Bekoach" (We Beg Thee) uses descending lines and clashing tonal centres as the individual reckons with their anguish until ultimately finding the strength of their faith again.

Performed by the Mostly Modern Orchestra at the inaugural Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA.

A Light is Sown for the Pious

A short work for Solo Piano, inspired by the painting 'The Red Buoy' by Paul Signac.
Performed by Michael Ierace at Elder Hall, Adelaide, South Australia, on December 3rd 2018 as part of The Firm New Music.
Recorded by Ray Thomas.

The Red Buoy

Every year in the spring, a myriad of birds soar the skies calling out
for a mate. This spring a couple of Cardinals started coming to the tree by my window and I fell in love with their beautiful colors. I imagined how a young Cardinal, who is looking for a female for the first time in his life, would feel. How it would hop from branch to branch singing it’s mating call yearning companionship; the excitement as he first spots her; his apprehension as he tries different calls in the hopes to grab her attention; and then his enthusiasm when she joins him and sings with him.

Two Cardinals

Von der Jugend from Mahler's Lied von der Erde arranged for an ensemble of 2 Alto Melodicas, 1 Bass Melodica and Toy Piano.

Jennifer Hymer, Sebastian Sprenger and Steven Tanoto · Melodicas
Daria-Karmina Iossifova-Molier · Toy Piano

Von der Jugend (Das Lied von der Erde)

'The Rust Belt’ is a term for the region straddling the upper North-Eastern United States, the Great Lakes, and the Midwest States, referring to economic decline, population loss, and urban decay due to the shrinking of its once-powerful industrial sector.

     Rust Belt was inspired by a photo essay featuring images from this region, such as abandoned factories and derelict neighborhoods. The music suggests the vibrancy, the blue-collar energy and optimism that used to permeate those sites. It evokes the nostalgia of the inhabitants for the good years and their yearning for a return to relevance and dignity.

     The musical material is generated from a 12 note ‘row’ that is used consistently throughout, either in melody or bass, though always in the context of a triadic tonal harmonic language. In reflection of the industrial theme, much use is made of metallic percussion, including anvil and steel drums. And the siren is also prominently featured.

     'Rust Belt' was commissioned in 2017 by the United States Air Force Academy Band and premiered under the baton of Shanti Simon, with Tim Allums and Adrian Holton solo trumpets. After touring the piece through Utah and Colorado the band featured it in their performance at the 2017 National Trumpet Competition. It was performed that same year in Manchester UK by the wind ensemble of the Royal Northern College of Music under Mark Heron. In 2019 James Ripley directed the Carthage College Wind Orchestra in a fine performance with Jacinda Ripley and Kevin Natoli as soloists.

'Rust Belt' is published by Murphy Music Press (www.murphymusicpress.com).

Rust Belt

Altostratus for saxophone orchestra by Rob Buckland

RNCM Saxophone Orchestra

sheet music available from astute-music.com

Rob Buckland - Altostratus

Performed by wild UP! (April, 2016)

PDF score available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WAGmoqZ5fE2s9Vw62fIB-hF_H1IklKqK/view?usp=sharing

Yukon Sunrise

David John Lang

Related tracks