Sea of Clouds

(3rd Movement of "The Seas of the Moon")

by
Robert Buckley

Ensemble: Concert Band

Grade: 4

Duration: 05:00

Year of Composition: 2019

Commissioned by: Michael Burch-Pesses

Publisher: Hal Leonard

Year of Publication: 2019

Publisher Catalog Number: 04005701

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1,2
Oboe 1,2
Bassoon 1,2
B♭ Clarinet 1,2,3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Sax 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpet 1,2,3
F Horn 1,2,3,4
Trombone 1,2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion 1 (Gong, Bass Drum, Rain Stick)
Percussion 2 (Finger Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal)
Percussion 3 (Marimba)
Percussion 4 (Vibraphone, Bells)
Timpani

Third movement of Symphony No. 2, The Seas of the Moon, commissioned by Michael Burch-Pesses in celebration of his 20th anniversary as conductor of the Oregon Symphonic Band. The symphony is in four movements:

I. Sea of Tranquility
II. Foaming Sea
III. Sea of Clouds
IV. Serpent Sea


Program Notes:

Since the beginning of humanity we’ve been mesmerized by the moon. When our ancestors saw the dark spots on the moon they believed they saw a kind of formation similar to the Earth – they believed they saw seas. These seas were originally named by Giambattista Riccioli, a 17th-century Jesuit astronomer – we still use these names today. Four of these seas were chosen as a basis for this wind symphony. Because the names of these seas conjured up musical and visual images in my imagination, the music is cinematic in nature and designed to create an abstract impression of otherworldliness.

The inspiration for "Sea of Clouds" came from a series of paintings done by Claude Monet in the fog in London, England. He captured the gradations of light as it was affected by fog with ghostly images sifting through – you can actually see the air. I found the restraint in these paintings captivating and this is the mood I wanted to capture in this music.

(Robert Buckley)