The Hunters Where Lilies Grow

by
Paul Suchan

Ensemble: Wind Orchestra

Grade: 3

Duration: 07:00

Year of Composition: 2017

Commissioned by: University of Saskatchewan

Premiered by: University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra (Darrin Oehlerking, director)

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Composer

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Flutes 1,2
Oboe
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinets 1,2,3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Saxes 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpets 1,2
F Horns 1,2
Trombones 1,2
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
[Mallet Percussion:] Chimes, Glockenspiel
[Percussion 1:] Toms
[Percussion 2:] Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum

First movement from Scenes of Plains People, a piece commissioned by the University of Saskatchewan in 2017 to commemorate Canada’s sesquicentennial, and the 110th Anniversary of the University of Saskatchewan. After its premiere, it was adapted by the composer to be accessible for high school ensembles. The work is comprised of three movements:

I. "The Hunters Where Lilies Grow", for wind orchestra
II. "The Horsemen Where Rivers Join", for choir and piano
III. "Fiddlers Where Grey Stones Stand", for jazz orchestra

Scores and parts for all three movements are available for free from the University of Saskatchewan, at this website.


Program Notes:

This three-movement piece is a celebration of the land, and of the different peoples that have inhabited it. The first movement, "The Hunters Where Lilies Grow" for Wind Orchestra, offers a glimpse of the land ten thousand years ago, when hunters chased their prey among the tiger lilies. The second movement, "The Horsemen Where Rivers Join" for choir, is a retelling of a famous horse race between the Cree and Blackfoot at the forks of the North Saskatchewan and Battle rivers over one hundred years ago. The third and final movement, "The Fiddlers Where Greystones Stand" for jazz orchestra, brings us to present day, the greystones representing the University of Saskatchewan, a place where the multi-faceted history of this land can be explored and shared.

(Paul Suchan via University of Saskatchewan)