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Josephine Lee conducting the Chicago Children's Choir

  #228 — by Emily Dickinson

Blazing in Gold and quenching in Purple
Leaping like Leopards to the Sky
Then at the feet of the old Horizon
Laying her spotted Face to die
Stooping as low as the Otter's Window
Touching the Roof and tinting the Barn
Kissing her Bonnet to the Meadow
And the Juggler of Day is gone

Some thoughts from the Composer:

Colorful/vivid/vibrant
Dramatic/gripping
Bold/Spirited/Intense
Harmonically clean and resonant
Taylor-made for this youth orchestra and youth choir
5 minutes duration
Solo cello and solo English horn are featured
Good youth trumpet players needed

Alan Tinkham conducting the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra

Emily Dickinson's texts are sublime; this one descries a sunrise and sunset. Likewise, the music paints the scene of the sun rising, ablaze with gold and purple.   Then the music ebbs and flows in multicolored waves and finally fades away in a playful gesture, mimicking the energy of the sun at the very split second that it rolls behind the horizon.

Celebrates nature.

Youth musicians/optimistic piece.

— Augusta Read Thomas

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Augusta Read Thomas's works, please contact G. Schirmer Inc..