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Full Orchestra
String Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Vocal
Chamber
Solo Instrumental
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Rough Ridge was commissioned by Mike Arbucci and the Blue Valley Northwest High School Orchestras.
Rough Ridge is the name of a viewpoint just off of the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway near Grandfather Mountain and the famous Linn Cove Viaduct in North Carolina. It is one of many expansive panoramic vistas of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains in the area.
One morning as I was driving through this area, I witnessed an incredibly beautiful sunrise. Brilliant red and orange colors filled the sky, radiating from the east, seemingly igniting the landscape. In this composition, I tried to capture some of the feelings of peacefulness and awe I had from that morning.
The music begins with floating harmonics pulsing in and out of existence, imitating the warm rays of sunlight stretching across the landscape. A melody begins in the lowest register and gradually rises. As the harmonies gradually coalesce into a repeated two-chord pattern, the lyrical melody is taken by the violas and then violins, growing in drama and fullness. After an expansive climax, the music recedes back to the floating texture that began the piece.
Grade 4
Duration: ca. 6'
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