Ian Deterling

Mountain Sunset Wind Ensemble

Mountain Sunset, Op. 25a (2024)

  • wind ensemble

  • grade 4

  • ca. 5:00

    • Commissioned by the Adirondack Wind Ensemble; Daniel Gordon, director

Score/Parts PDF Previews

Program Notes

  • In January 2024, Dan Gordon asked if I would be interested in writing a new piece for the Adirondack Wind Ensemble to premiere. He explained that the theme of the concert is "home in the Adirondacks," and he thought I might have an interesting perspective, having recently moved to the area. I enthusiastically agreed to write a piece and began to think about my most vivid first impressions of this beautiful new home.

Mountain Sunset (from Images of the Adirondacks)

  • I’m always in awe of summer sunsets where the sky seems to erupt with brilliant oranges, reds, and purples. This piece begins with an overcast sky; the clouds float and churn in the distance. About halfway through the movement, the clouds finally part, allowing the warm sun to shine through a kaleidoscope of clouds. While composing this movement, I initially thought of having the instruments represent the sun by writing an orchestrated decrescendo where the music slowly disappears with the sun. However, I felt that this approach would be too obvious and potentially anticlimactic. To me, a sunset becomes gradually more and more dramatic up until the very last moment when the last sliver of sun disappears behind the horizon. With this in mind, my approach to writing this movement changed to having the descending lines counterpointed with increasing intensity that builds to the magical moment when the sun flashes out of view. One additional detail: throughout the orchestrated crescendo, I incorporated the ‘dawn’ motif from Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss (spread out between the low brass, horns, and trumpets). Apart from its connection with the sun, the motif is relevant to me personally as it was the very first piece of music I performed since moving to the region (at the SUNY Plattsburgh Symphonic Band Concert on April 25, 2024).

Images of the Adirondacks was premiered by the Adirondack Wind Ensemble on September 22, 2024 at E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium in Plattsburgh, New York.

Instrumentation

  • Flutes 1-3

  • Oboe (substitution parts for Eb Clarinet and Soprano Saxophone are included)

  • Clarinets in Bb 1-3

  • Bass Clarinet in Bb

  • Contrabass Clarinet (optional)

  • Bassoon

  • Contrabassoon (optional)

  • Alto Saxophone 1

  • Alto Saxophone 2

  • Tenor Saxophone

  • Baritone Saxophone

  • Trumpets in Bb 1-3

  • Horns in F 1-4

  • Trombones 1, 2

  • Bass Trombone

  • Euphonium (T.C. version included)

  • Tuba

  • Vibraphone

  • Tam-tam

  • Timpani

Piano Roll Video

 

What do I get when I order Mountain Sunset, Op. 25a?

  • You will receive the full score and complete set of parts as individual PDF files.

  • Once your order has been processed, you’ll be emailed a link where you can download the sheet music.

  • When you click on the link to download your music, you’ll be brought to the download page (see image)

Download page for Mountain Sunset, Op. 25a

  • Note that the score and parts are separated into different PDF files.

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