Inaugural Season Work: Where the Colors Fall for Wind Dectet
Ensign Peak is best described as an “undistinguished hill” rising over a thousand feet from the northern edge of Utah’s Salt Lake Valley …” It does not stand out in the aesthetic ways that many nearby peaks of the Wasatch range stand out. The attention Ensign Peak receives comes from its historical significance within the Mormon faith.
This dectet, “Where Colors Fall” has been created by deconstructing the hymn ‘High on a Mountain Top” (words by Ebenezer Beesley and music by Joel H. Johnson). At bar 22 of the dectet, a descending motive is introduced. This motive is taken from the hymn and adapted to a minor mode. An additional motive from the beginning of the hymn can be found shortly after. Nearly every bar of the hymn is utilized in some way throughout the dectet. Though the pieces of the hymn will be found strewn throughout the dectet, there are also moments when the hymn is reconstructed and can be heard in complete form.
It is my hope that this dectet will illuminate the beautiful colors that can be found in this instrumentation, and that the work will pay tribute to the many sacrifices my own ancestors, and many of yours, made to get to “…the point where colors fall.”
This dectet, “Where Colors Fall” has been created by deconstructing the hymn ‘High on a Mountain Top” (words by Ebenezer Beesley and music by Joel H. Johnson). At bar 22 of the dectet, a descending motive is introduced. This motive is taken from the hymn and adapted to a minor mode. An additional motive from the beginning of the hymn can be found shortly after. Nearly every bar of the hymn is utilized in some way throughout the dectet. Though the pieces of the hymn will be found strewn throughout the dectet, there are also moments when the hymn is reconstructed and can be heard in complete form.
It is my hope that this dectet will illuminate the beautiful colors that can be found in this instrumentation, and that the work will pay tribute to the many sacrifices my own ancestors, and many of yours, made to get to “…the point where colors fall.”
Inaugural Season Composer: Alyssa MorRis
While primarily known as an award-winning oboist, Alyssa Morris is also a prolific and celebrated composer. Her chamber music is performed extensively around the world. Alyssa was a recipient of an International Barlow Composition Commission, and she was the Composer-In-Residence for the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra’s 2020-2021 season. Her music has been presented at several International Double Reed Conventions, the Japan Double Reed Society Convention, the National Flute Association Convention, the National Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest, and the Society of Composers Inc. National Convention.
Alyssa has been commissioned to write music for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force Woodwind Quintet, the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Dr. Mark Ostoich (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), the Sundance Trio (Brigham Young University), and Carolyn Hove (principal English horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) to name a few.
Her music is published by TrevCo Music Publishing and C. Alan Publishing, and has been recorded on the Blue Griffin, Centaur, Equilibrium, MSR Classics, Parma, and Tantara labels. www.alyssamorrismusic.com
Alyssa has been commissioned to write music for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force Woodwind Quintet, the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Dr. Mark Ostoich (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), the Sundance Trio (Brigham Young University), and Carolyn Hove (principal English horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) to name a few.
Her music is published by TrevCo Music Publishing and C. Alan Publishing, and has been recorded on the Blue Griffin, Centaur, Equilibrium, MSR Classics, Parma, and Tantara labels. www.alyssamorrismusic.com
