- Band
- A Million Suns at Midnight
- Alchemy in Silent Spaces (wind ensemble)
- all stars are love (band)
- All Stars Are Love (Soprano + Wind Ensemble)
- Anthem (band)
- Axis Mundi
- Bloom (band)
- Chester Leaps In
- Coil (band + electronics)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone
- Concerto for Cello
- Concerto for Piano
- Concerto for Trombone
- Concerto for Wind Ensemble
- Dusk (band)
- Echo Dreams
- Ecstatic Fanfare (band)
- Ecstatic Waters (wind ensemble + electronics)
- Eristic Zeal
- First Light
- Idyll (band)
- ImPercynations
- In This Broad Earth (band)
- Interruption Overture
- Interruptions
- Introit: Tin Riot
- Irrational Joy
- MetaMarch
- Miniature Suite
- Monkey
- Nothing Gold Can Stay
- Paean: Chant
- Paean: Triumph
- Radiant Joy
- RedLine (wind ensemble)
- Rise (band)
- sevenfive (band)
- Solace (band)
- Stampede (band)
- Suite Dreams
- The Blue Bird (band)
- The Low Arc of the Sun
- The Machine Awakes (band + electronics)
- The Marbled Midnight Mile (band)
- Whirlwind (wind ensemble)
- Wings That Work
- Brass Band
- Chamber
- Chester Leaps In (two marimbas + piano)
- Dancing Around the Cathode Campfire
- Dusk (saxophone ensemble)
- Hummingbrrd (Baritone Saxophone)
- Hummingbrrd (Euphonium)
- In This Broad Earth (brass ensemble)
- Introit: Tin Riot
- Loose Id (brass ensemble + drumset)
- Loose Id (brass quintet + percussion)
- Radiant Joy (saxophone ensemble)
- RedLine (percussion quartet)
- RedLine (saxophone ensemble)
- RedLine (solo piano)
- Rise (saxophone quartet)
- sevenfive (brass quintet)
- Choral
- Concerti
- Electroacoustic
- Electronic
- Orchestra
- A Million Suns at Midnight
- Alchemy in Silent Spaces (symphony orchestra)
- Bloom (symphony orchestra)
- Concerto for Cello
- Concerto for Piano
- Concerto for Trombone
- Dusk (symphony orchestra)
- Ecstatic Fanfare (symphony orchestra)
- Ecstatic Waters (symphony orchestra + electronics)
- In This Broad Earth (symphony orchestra)
- Loose Id for Orchestra
- Rise (string orchestra)
- The Machine Awakes (symphony orchestra + electronics)
- Whirlwind (symphony orchestra)
- Saxophone Ensemble
- Solo
First Light
The title First Light refers to the arrival of dawn – the transformation of darkness into light. In particular, it is shaped by my experience of dawn in the mountains surrounding Lake Garda, in northern Italy.
There, the light of the sun arrives in distinct stages: the night sky begins to brighten quite early, around 4:30 or 5am, though the sun remains hidden behind the mountains for several hours. Around 8 o’clock, the first direct ray of sunlight abruptly crests the mountaintop, bringing with it intense, palpable heat, which rapidly gains strength as the sun fully emerges. Somewhat paradoxically, the town below, nestled in the narrow space between the water’s edge and the steep mountain slope, remains in darkness for awhile longer, until the sun ultimately reaches a high enough angle to send light cascading down the mountainside, illuminating everything.
Genres: Lyrical
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Media
General Info
Year(s) composed: 2007
Duration: 09:00
Commissioned by: New York York State School Association
Dedicated to: Ray Cramer
Premiered
2 December 2007, by the New York All-State Symphonic Band, Ray Cramer, conductor
Technical Info
Piccolo
Flute 1-4
Oboe 1-2
Bassoon 1-2
Contrabassoon (optional)
Bb Clarinet in Bb 1-6
Bb Bass Clarinet 1-2
Bb Contrabass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1-2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1-6
Horn in F 1-4
Trombone 1-4
Euphonium 1-2
Tuba 1-2
Timpani
Perc. 1: Crotales
Perc. 2: Marimba
Perc. 3: Glockenspiel
Perc. 4: Vibraphone
Perc. 5: Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbal, Bass Drum