Spring Thaw (2019)

for orchestra - [3 minutes]

Instrumentation

Fl. (3) (III dbl picc.) | Ob. (2) | Eng. Hn. (1) | Cl. Bb (2) | B. Cl. Bb (1) | Bsn. (2) | Cbsn. (1) | Hn. F (4) | Tpt. C (2) | Tpt. Bb (1) | Tbn. (2) | B. Tbn (1) | Tuba (1) | Timpani | Percussion (3) (Perc. 1 includes electronic max patch) | Strings

Program Note

Spring Thaw was commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for the Plugged In Young People's Concert of March 2020. The piece incorporates three melodies composed by the 2019-20 winners of the CSO's Young People's Concerts Melody Writing Contest, in which young people from Cincinnati area schools are invited to compose and submit a melody to be incorporated in a brand-new piece commissioned by the orchestra.

The theme for this concert was the incorporation of electronics. Students were asked to submit melodies in conjunction with a few descriptive words on what instruments or pre-recorded sounds would go best with their melodies. The three that were chosen all focused on a similar theme of wind and breeze. I took especially from Elana’s inspiration for her melody (a soft tune that slowly hardens in the end). Spring Thaw starts with bright colors and chimes blowing in the wind, gradually becoming more adamant by the end. The three melodies chosen are listed below in the order that they appear in the score.

A credit should go to sound engineer, Shawn Milloway, for all his assistance with the electronic samples. Another credit should also go to Elana Perry, Chloe Garcia, and Briar Schoettle for their excellent melodic submissions!