Awaken

Awaken, Cait Nishimura (2016) 2'30"
for concert band

Awaken was the first large-scale piece I completed after an almost five-year hiatus. I felt as though it was my own personal moment of "awakening" after being in a somewhat stagnant state for a long time. I was inspired by the feeling of waking up to a sunny morning, the warmth pouring in the windows, and the feeling of being open to whatever happens in the day. The music represents this optimism, and the energy needed to take on whatever the day brings. I feel that Awaken has two sources of inspiration: the literal experience of waking up to a new day, and also the reveal of a new sense of self.

Commissioned by the 2015-16 Branksome Hall Grade 8 Band, directed by Scott Harbin

Difficulty: Grade 1.5

Instrumentation: Flute 1-2, oboe, bassoon, clarinet 1-2, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet 1-2, horn, trombone 1-2, baritone, tuba, xylophone, percussion

Note: Score and parts include two copies of all instrumental parts. Please contact our team if you would like to purchase additional copies.