Nicky Sohn
The Blue Hour
Duration: 3'
The Blue Hour, from Symphony No. 1, Nicky Sohn (2024) 6'
for orchestra
The Blue Hour is the second movement of Symphony No. 1, a work that explores memory, change, and renewal. Inspired by my experiences in the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music’s Composing Earth Cohort, the symphony reflects on environmental shifts and personal transformation. Growing up in Korea, I was surrounded by vibrant blue skies, but upon returning as an adult, I witnessed the effects of air pollution, with children now coloring the sky in shades of gray. This realization, contrasted with the vivid blue skies I encountered in southern France, became a central theme in the symphony. The work unfolds across four movements, each depicting stages of nostalgia, tension, and resolution.
In The Blue Hour, the symphony’s central melody intensifies, embodying the contrast between cherished memories and present realities. Influenced by Berlioz’s use of recurring themes in Symphonie Fantastique, this movement captures a pivotal moment of reckoning and transformation. Symphony No. 1 as a whole serves as a meditation on the passage of time, illustrating how personal and collective experiences shape our perception of the world. Through its evolving themes, the work ultimately seeks to convey a sense of hope and renewal.
Orchestral instrumentation: 3[1.2/afl.3./picc] 3[1.2.3/eh] 3 3 – 4 3 3 1 – timp+3 – kbd[pf/cel] – str
Orchestral performance parts are available via rental.
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About the Work
Duration: 3'
Instrumentation: Orchestra (3[1.2/afl.3./picc] 3[1.2.3/eh] 3 3 – 4 3 3 1 – timp+3 – kbd[pf/cel] – str)
Commissioned by: Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
Pages: 33
