Wind Ensemble & Concert Band

Chamber Works

Fog of the Earth

for concert band
Duration: c. 4'
2013/2016

Premiered December 17, 2016
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
Commissioned by the Atlanta Freedom Band
Nicole Fallin, conductor

Perusal score (viewable, not printable)

Fog of the Earth is jointly inspired by the poetry of Thoreau and by the beauty of North Carolina. I vividly remember stepping my feet into the cold waters of western North Carolina's upper Nantahala River, and becoming filled with the beauty of the thick mountain air surrounding me. All the while, the words of Thoreau floated around the banks, perfectly encapsulating the brisk river meeting the cool air. The words and the river blended together in delicate harmony.

Fog, by Henry David Thoreau

Dull water spirit--and Protean god
Descended cloud fast anchored to the earth
That drawest too much air for shallow coasts
Thou ocean branch slowest to the sun
Incense of earth, perfumed with flowers--
Spirit of lakes and rivers, seas and rills
Come to revisit now thy native scenes
Night thoughts of earth--dream drapery
Dew cloth and fairy napkin
Thou wind-blown meadow of the air.