Neys

Neys, from Lake Superior Suite Cait Nishimura (2018) 5'
for wind ensemble

Lake Superior Suite is a five-movement work for wind ensemble, inspired by the landscapes of five provincial and national parks along the northern shoreline of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, holding about 10% of the world’s fresh water. The Ojibwe/Anishinaabe name for the lake is gitchigami or gichigaaming, meaning “great sea”. This piece was conceptualized during camping trips at each of the five parks, and is meant to express transformative experiences through music and highlight the power of nature connection.

Neys Provincial Park was formerly a prisoner of war camp and a processing site for Japanese-Canadians who were interned and forcibly relocated from British Columbia to Ontario during WWII. Much of the old growth forest was cut down to build the POW camp, and trees were later re-planted in rows. Slow and steady melodic fragments represent the solemn voices of this beautiful but remote location, while the gradual build toward the climax evokes feelings of destruction, anguish, and yearning for peace. Neys is dedicated with love to the composer’s Japanese-Canadian relatives.

Dedicated with gratitude to Dr. Gillian MacKay at the University of Toronto

Difficulty: Grade 5

Instrumentation: Flute 1-2, oboe, bassoon, clarinet 1-3, bass clarinet, alto saxophone 1-2, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet 1-3, horn 1-2, trombone 1-2, euphonium, tuba, piano, timpani, chimes, marimba, vibraphone, percussion 1-2