SKU: SU.25100050
A continuation of Holst's The Planets, adding Pluto, Eris, and Ceres. Modern, but audience accessible.3,1 3,1 3,1 3,1; 4331; timp, 3perc, hp; stgs Duration: 18’ Composed: 2015 Published by: Gusthold Music Publisher Performance materials available on rental only:.
SKU: P2.80120
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union clarified the definition of a planet, creating a new class of objects known as dwarf planets. They are defined as a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a moon. As of the end of 2008, there are five known dwarf planets - Eris, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake and Ceres - and these are the subject of Songs of Distant Earth. Songs of Distant Earth was the third prize winner of the 2011 International Trombone Festival Composition Contest sponsored by Bone Therapy.
SKU: ST.C320
ISBN 9790570813209.
Composer’s Note:I composed The Planets to be performed during my tenure as Composer in Residence at Chetham’s International Piano Summer School, Manchester, in August 2018. Drawing inspiration from Holst’s Suite of the same name – a work of unstoppable importance – my composition nevertheless contrasts conspicuously, both in its overall scheme (nine movements instead of seven) and orientation (my work takes the Sun as its point of orientation, whereas Holst places the Earth at the centre point and hence leaves it out of the musical scheme). There is, as a consequence, a sense of increasing serenity to my music following the effervescence of Jupiter, though there are reverberations of earlier themes and moods in the concluding movement, Pluto, which nevertheless ends enigmatically as befits its distant, ‘cold’ designation. Pluto was left out of Holst’s work for good reason – it had yet to be discovered – though Colin Matthews redressed the situation admirably in 2000. Whether one chooses to go along with Pluto’s unresolved status, or indeed to promote it to the position of ‘full’ planet (amusingly, Pluto became demoted to dwarf- planet in 1992) is perhaps less important than its potential to evince a musical spirit entirely to itself.Performance Note:Movements may be performed separately as desired, though the connections between musical characters will of course be lost in doing so. In Neptune and Pluto (which are best performed attacca) I include infrequent use of a bell, pitched at B4. This denotes the intangibility of time; it adds a welcome new colour, as well as an additional element for the audience to ponder on. A standard hotel receptionist’s bell was used in the inaugural performance – surprisingly resonant, even in a sizeable auditorium – though if this is unavailable the cellist can play the same note (or harmonic, if preferred).World Premiere given at Stoller Hall, Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, August 2018: Gillian Poznansky (flute), Sebastian Poznansky (cello) and Mark Tanner (piano).Duration: 30 minutesGrade 8(+)Former Spartan Press Cat. No.: SP1419.
