Intrinsic Light

by
Cait Nishimura

Ensemble: Concert Band

Grade: 4

Duration: 07:00

Year of Composition: 2019

Commissioned by: Ontario Band Association

Premiered by: Ontario Provincial Honour Band (Jason Caslor, conductor)

Date of Premiere: November 9, 2019

Publisher: Cait Nishimura

Year of Publication: 2019

Publisher Catalog Number: CNM023

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Piccolo
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 1,2,3
F Horns 1,2,3
Trombones 1,2,3
Euphonium
Tuba
Double Bass
Timpani
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone
Marimba (2 players)
Chimes
Percussion 1 (Triangle, Tambourine, Bass Drum)
Percussion 2 (Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum)

Commissioned by the Ontario Band Association in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Ontario Music Educators' Association, and jointly funded by a consortium of schools, institutions, and individuals from across North America.


Program Notes:

“Intrinsic light” is a term for the colour or sensation we experience in complete darkness, due to the spontaneous activity of neurons in the retina. My goal with this piece was to represent this phenomenon through sound. Reflecting on this concept prompted a deeper, metaphorical realization: even in times of darkness, we are able to observe, generate, and experience light, and that coming together to make music is one of the ways in which we can do this. When I was a high school student, I participated in the Ontario Provincial Honour Band and performed at the annual OMEA conference. It was a formative experience during which I was surrounded by others who were there out of a genuine desire to share their love of music -- a beautiful example of “intrinsic” motivation. It has been ten years since I graduated from my high school music program, and five years since completing my post-secondary studies in music, and I am endlessly grateful to have been part of the music education community in Ontario. Music teachers are some of the unseen superheroes of this world, and it was a huge honour to have been asked to write music in celebration of their work.

(Cait Nishimura)