Creation of Faith, The (Mvt. IV, Sym. 1)

The Creation of Faith (Spring) is the final movement from Blackshaw's "Symphony No. 1". From the opening to the beginning of the dance (measure 81) the feeling of flying through the air with “gay abandon” is captured through morphing wind and melodic percussion lines. Parts weave in and out around a simple Flute melody, underpinned by pulsating, dove-tailed percussion. The dance from 81-end is the rebuilding of human faith with “bits and pieces” as Spring brings us warmth, wildlife and the return of goodness and faith in humanity.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Graduate
Level: 5 | Duration: 6:10

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (A3 spiral bound)

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
B-flat Clarinet 4
Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional)
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Contrabassoon
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1 & 2
F Horn 3 & 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Double Bass

Percussion 1: Xylophone, Vibraphone, Claves
Percussion 2: Glockenspiel, Marimba, Concert Bass Drum
Percussion 3: Marimba, Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbals
Percussion 4: Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Tambourine
Timpani: Suspended Cymbal, Crotales (with bow & mallets), Snare Drum

Program Notes
The Creation of Faith (Spring) is the final movement from Blackshaw's "Symphony No. 1." The work injects hope into despair, releasing the audience from the heaviness of Winter. In alignment with the prayer, “the returning and the rejuvenation of the natural world” is brought about by ascending, pedalled chords, resonated by mallet percussion and a single pedal note shared throughout the ensemble. From the opening to the beginning of the dance (measure 81) I have aimed to capture the feeling of flying through the air with “gay abandon”. Parts weave in and out around a simple Flute melody, underpinned by pulsating, dove-tailed percussion. The dance from 81-end is the rebuilding of human faith with “bits and pieces” as Spring brings us warmth, wildlife and the return of goodness and faith in humanity. Audience members are encouraged to embrace and internalise each prayer as the movement is performed, linking the elegance of Leunig’s verse to the musical impressions created by the composer. The prayers are reproduced here exactly as they appear in Leunig’s text When I talk to you and are reproduced with permission of the publisher, Harper Collins (Australia and New Zealand). Commissioned by the Australian Wind Band Commissioning Consortium.