Marilyn Bliss
Aurora Borealis
Year: 1990
Duration (in minutes): 11'30"
Difficulty: Medium (college/community)
Category: percussion ensemble, percussion quartet, small chamber ensembles - 2 to 4 players
Instruments: percussion
Publisher: Mostly Marimba
Publisher website: https://www.mostlymarimba.com/
Video Links: https://youtu.be/N0BTGekEoE0
Purchase score URL: https://www.mostlymarimba.com/product/aurora-borealis-marilyn-bliss/
Description: 4 players, 2 vibraphone, 1 glockenspiel, 3 suspended cymbals, wood block, temple blocks, marimba, crotale, tam-tam, glass chimes, ceramic chimes, sleigh bells, maracas. "Aurora Borealis" draws its inspiration from the arctic phenomena also known as the Northern Lights. The author Barry Lopez (in "Arctic Dreams") has described the aurora as "pale gossamer curtains of light that seem to undulate across arctic skies...The most remarkable effect they seem to have...is to draw a viewer emotionally up and out of himself, because they throw the sky into a third dimension..." My composition is meant to reflect this view of the aurora -- its shimmering, almost tangible quality, its envelopment of the senses, its meditative, spiritual presence. Premiered by the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and published by Mostly Marimba Publications.