The Creation of Faith (Spring) Jodie Blackshaw, Concert Band Grade 5

Written in a grand film score style, this magnificent work opens with a dynamic fanfare featuring soaring brass and woodwind flourishes. Descriptive and evocative with every phrase, including a beautiful slow lyric section, transport your audience on a thrilling musical adventure with this impressive overture!

The final movement injects hope into despair, releasing the audience from the heaviness of Winter. In alignment with the prayer, the returning and the rejuvenation of the natural world is brought about by ascending, pedalled chords, resonated by mallet percussion and a single pedal note shared throughout the ensemble. From the opening to the beginning of the dance (measure 81) I have aimed to capture the feeling of flying through the air with gay abandon. Parts weave in and out around a simple Flute melody, underpinned by pulsating, dove-tailed percussion. The dance from 81-end is the rebuilding of human faith with bits and pieces as Spring brings us warmth, wildlife and the return of goodness and faith in humanity. Audience members are encouraged to embrace and internalise each prayer as the movement is performed, linking the elegance of Leunigs verse to the musical impressions created by the composer. The prayers are reproduced here exactly as they appear in Leunigs text When I talk to you and are reproduced with permission of the publisher, Harper Collins (Australia and New Zealand). Commissioned by the Australian Wind Band Commissioning Consortium, led by Mr. Matt Klohs.