BOREAL PINES

• Concert Band Grade 3
• Duration: ~4 minutes
• View a perusal score
• BUY NOW

Boreal Pines was commissioned by Ashley Brockway and the Ecole McTavish High School Concert Band to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the devastating 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta. This forest fire forced the evacuation of 88,000 people and had lasting impacts on all who call Fort McMurray home. [Watch this documentary about their story]

Fort McMurray is situated within the Boreal Forest, which is a bioregion that supports an extensive network of plants, animals, and fungi. The coniferous forests of this region are resilient and, in many cases, have adapted to depend on fire for regeneration. Some species have cones which only release seeds under extreme heat; a forest fire can set this cycle of the forest into motion. The pines of the Boreal Forest are known for their ability to bounce back after hardship, and so are the people of Fort McMurray. 

This piece consists of nature-inspired imagery and reflects the mixed emotions of the community as they rebuild: aleatoric passages represent uncertainty, while hopeful melodies encourage finding and creating light within the darkness. 

Proceeds from every purchase of this piece are donated to Tree Canada’s Operation ReLeaf, an ongoing program supporting the recovery of forests and communities impacted by wildfires.