Listen!

Wind Orchestra

5' 27"

Sketch commenced in December of 2006 and finished at the end of January 2007. The manuscript score was completed in February of 2007 and engraving took place in April.

Commissioned by the Northern Sydney Region, New South Wales Department of Education and Training for the Artsnorth Regional Wind Ensemble.

Knowing that this work would have its premiere at the Sydney Opera House, and that the conductor of the Artsnorth Regional Wind Ensemble. that would play it, Gavin Staines, was interested in a work that would make the audience sit up and pay attention I set about constructing something which was loud, bold and a little, "in-your-face". The email correspondence which follows gives solid insight into this work's genesis. What it doesn't tell is the consistent declaration of confidence in me that is evident in Gavin Staines being the advocate for me as a composer. It is a hard thing to do to chase funding, encourage support and then to see the project through to completion. Gavin has done a marvellous job at doing this for my work three times over a few years and I am very thankful for his consistent support.
Staines - Hultgren email
Hultgren - Staines email

World premiere at the Sydney Opera House, 27th of August 2007, Gavin Staines, Conductor.

Subsequent performances:

• Western International Band Clinic, Seattle, Washington, USA - 19 November 2007
• American Band College, Ashland Oregon, USA - 26 June 2008

Manuscript

Sketch, Manuscript Score, Engraved score

Program note

USA premiere

American Band College

USA premiere program
Invitation to premiere

Every high school age student who has played this, and spoken to me about it, has enjoyed its high powered energy and incessant forward motion.

The program note tells the story so well - "sit down and listen!" Everywhere I have performed this there has been such an enthusiastic response - from musicians and audiences alike. It has a sense of the drum line 'smack' to open and a number of times throughout, but the lyricism seems to come as a surprise as does the ebullient melodic material which is not fanfare like, as the opening statements are.