Aurora

for wind ensemble

ca. 6-7 minutes in duration

Completed April 30th, 2020 in Baton Rouge, LA.

This work is inspired by the natural phenomena of auroras, a video of which can be found below. This occurrence is caused by interactions between solar wind being emitted by the Sun and the Earth’s magnetic poles. At a simplified level, the strong magnetic field of the Earth at its poles disrupts the cosmic wind, resulting in a visible reaction. The colors and shapes seen can vary due to a variety of environmental factors such at temperature, distance from the magnetic poles, elevation, and chemical atmospheric makeup.

The results of these interactions produce a dynamically changing pattern of light that is continually changing shape, location, and hue for as long as it is visible. My work Aurora was inspired by this changing nature and shimmering hues of light. By gradually shifting the instrumental timbres, building multiple harmonic spectra at once, and developing a continual background movement I hope to be able to capture the essence of an Aurora, as shown in the video below.