High Flight

             An exciting new setting for SATB choir and alto saxophone of the official poem of the NASA space programme.
        The Orlando Chorale commissioned High Flight in 2008 as a tribute to choir co-founder John Perkins. They gave the March 2009 world premiere - a beautiful and moving performance under the direction of Gregory Ruffer with distinguished saxophonist George Weremchuk as soloist in Orlando FL.
          This was followed just a month later by the New Zealand premiere: Viva Voce under John Rosser, Yvette Audain on saxophone in a performance described as the highlight of a very successful concert. In March 2010 George Weremchuk was soloist again in a fine performance in Athens GA by the University of Georgia Chamber Choir under James Henderson, who coincidentally also happens to be a keen amateur pilot.
          The lion's share of performances to date have been by the Anderson University Chorale directed by Richard Sowers with eloquent performances by Rebecca Chappell. In Early 2010 the choir took High Flight first on a 10 concert tour through Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio and Indiana, followed two months later by a 9 concert tour to Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
          All performances by all four choirs met with an overwhelmingly warm reception. Perhaps the most important plaudit was from the brother of the poet, Hugh Magee, who describes this setting as the finest of the many settings of John Magee's famous poem.
          The range of durations I have heard for this piece is quite large - from 8 to 13 minutes. I am surprised to find that it works well across such a range. Obviously the slower the tempo the more stamina is required of the choir. Whatever speed is chosen High Flight requires great expressive input both from choir and saxophone soloist.
          Some programming suggestions from some of these performances:

Flight: When I Land – Greg Bartholomew, Lasciatemi Fly to Death – Luciano Lunkes, Leonardo Dreams Of His Flying Machine – Eric Whitacre, Love Winged My Hopes – Thomas Morley, On Wings Of Song – Felix Mendelssohn, The Blue Bird – Charles Villiers Stanford – along with any number of modern popular songs – contact Mark Rosser for some very effective SATB arrangements.

Choir with saxophone: American Voices – Catherine McMichael

          Please contact me for more information, or to arrange a performance of this work by your choir.

Christopher Marshall        

Reviews: “...a transcendent experience.... a sensation of soaring and wonder.”
“…..the finest musical rendering of the sonnet we have heard.” Read more

Scoring: SATB choir, alto saxophone
Duration: ±9"
Difficulty: moderate/advanced

Feel free to download this score. If you would like your choir to perform it, please contact me.

Recordings: (most recent first)
The Anderson University Chorale – recording used by kind permission of director Richard Sowers (choose 'save file' option.)
Viva Voce - New Zealand premiere by permission of:
The Orlando Chorale – recording used by kind of Gregory Ruffer.