Earthrise was originally written for and dedicated to [conductor] Luc Vertommen and Brass Band Buizingen. The work was written to be the free choice test piece for the 33rd European Brass Band Championships, held in Linz, Austria on 1st May 2010. The Concert Band version premiere was given by Dr. Reed Thomas and the Middle Tennessee State University Wind Ensemble on 15th April 2012.
“Earthrise” is the name of one of the most iconic photographs in history. The original NASA image named AS8-14-2383 was one of a series of photographs taken by William Anders and the Apollo 8 crew on 24th December 1968 during the first manned mission to the Moon. Astronaut Michael Collins, who was later to take part in the Apollo 11 mission that first landed on the Moon and who was working on the ground as capsule communicator for the Apollo 8 team, called their mission “more awe-inspiring than landing on the Moon.”
The composer writes: “Earthrise is written in one continuous movement but divided into 3 sections: fast-slow-fast. I have tried to capture the excitement and expectation that the Apollo 8 mission brought to the world. This is reflected in the extreme virtuosic demands put upon the performers. I have endeavored in my opening bars to reflect as a musical portrait the description given by the author and aviator Anne Morrow Lindbergh when she witnessed the launch on 21st December 1968 in Florida.”
Nigel Clarke began his musical career as a military bandsman, but a developing interest in composition took him to the Royal Academy of Music to study with Paul Patterson. Here, his striking originality and capacity for hard work were recognized by several significant awards including the Josiah Parker Prize, adjudicated by Sir Michael Tippett and the Queen's Commendation for Excellence - the Royal Academy of Music's highest distinction. A British Council scholarship enabled him to participate in the 8th Summer School for Young Composers in Poland. Nigel was previously Young Composer in Residence at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Composition and Contemporary Music tutor at the Royal Academy of Music, London, Head of Composition at the London College of Music and Media, and a visiting tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music. Nigel was recently invited to join the John Adams Society, named after the 2nd President of the United States of America. More recently, he has become Associate Composer to Brass Band Buizingen in Belgium. In 2008, the award of Doctor of Musical Arts was conferred upon him by Salford University.
Program note provided by the composer