Scott Michal
CandleGlow
Short instrumentation: 3 3 3 2 - 4 3 3 1, timp, perc(3), hp, cel, str
Duration: 7'
Instrumentation details:
1st flute
2nd flute
3rd flute (+picc)
cor anglais
1st oboe
2nd oboe
bass clarinet in Bb
1st clarinet in A
2nd clarinet in A
1st bassoon
2nd bassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
1st trumpet in Bb
2nd trumpet in Bb
3rd trumpet in Bb
bass trombone
1st trombone
2nd trombone
tuba
timpani
percussion (3 players)
celesta
harp
violin I (14 players)
violin II (12 players)
viola (8 players)
violoncello (8 players)
double bass (5 players)
CandleGlow
Sample pages
Work introduction
The familiar carol, "Silent Night" was writen by Franz Gruber after a Christmas Eve storm left the church without electricity to power the lights and organ. Lit only with candelight, Herr Gruber led the congregation in singing accompanied only by guitar.
CandleGlow has been compared to the petals of a flower slowly opening, gradually reassembling the deconstructed and fragmented pieces of "Silent Night" until finally the carol is revealed. Colorful use of pitched percussion over shimmering chords paint a sonic portrait of flickering candlelight, reflecting off of the faces of children and families as they gather for a candelight service.
CandleGlow was commissioned by the Ohio Valley Symphony and was first
performed in December of 1998.