INTRINSIC LIGHT
- Concert Band Grade 4
- Duration: 7 minutes
- Commissioned by the Ontario Band Association in celebration of the Ontario Music Educators Association's 100th anniversary
- World premiere performance by the Ontario Provincial Honour Band conducted by Jason Caslor: Toronto, November 2019
- View perusal score
- BUY HERE
“Intrinsic light” is a term for the colour or sensation we experience in complete darkness, due to the spontaneous activity of neurons in the retina. My goal with this piece was to represent this phenomenon through sound. Reflecting on this concept prompted a deeper, metaphorical realization: even in times of darkness, we are able to observe, generate, and experience light, and that coming together to make music is one of the ways in which we can do this. When I was a high school student, I participated in the Ontario Provincial Honour Band and performed at the annual OMEA conference. It was a formative experience during which I was surrounded by others who were there out of a genuine desire to share their love of music -- a beautiful example of “intrinsic” motivation. It has been ten years since I graduated from my high school music program, and five years since completing my post-secondary studies in music, and I am endlessly grateful to have been part of the music education community in Ontario. Music teachers are some of the unseen superheroes of this world, and it was a huge honour to have been asked to write music in celebration of their work.
Intrinsic Light was commissioned by the Ontario Band Association in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association. The commission was jointly funded by the following consortium of schools, institutions, and individuals from across North America:
- Agincourt Collegiate Institute, David Lum
- Alexander Mackenzie High School, Eric Hudspith
- Arizona State University, Jason Caslor
- Aurora Community Band, Gord Shephard
- Bill Hogarth Secondary School, Steffan Brunette and Patrick Knight
- Bishop Lloyd Middle School, Anya Pogorelova
- Brooklin High School, Andy Barber
- Bur Oak Secondary School, Lyle Corrigan
- Cambrian College, Dylan Maddix
- Centennial College Saskatoon, Christa MacBride and Ali Peters
- Charles P. Allen High School, Melissa Doiron
- Clinton County Band Director Association, Eric Chrostoski, Blake Korte, Rodney Washburn, Jamie Zettler
- Dennis Beck
- Didsbury High School, Kirk Wassmer
- Dr. F.J. Hayden Secondary School, Leah Jagger
- Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School, Scott Harrison
- Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute, Andria Kilbride and David Ross
- Edina High School, Paul Kile
- Evan Hardy Collegiate & Saskatoon Serenade, Stacey Mortenson-Spokes
- Foothills Music Society, Kathie Van Lare and Cassandra Lehmann
- Jackson City Schools, Ryan Hurd
- Jessica Puskar
- Markham District High School, Mark Caswell
- McMaster University, Joseph Resendes
- Sir William Mulock Secondary School, Chris Uchida and James Eriksen
- Ontario Band Association
- Orillia Secondary School, Laura Lee Matthie
- Phi Beta Mu – Lambda Iota Chapter
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School, Greg Colley
- Reinhardt University, Daniel Kirk
- Richmond Hill High School, Joanna Christopoulos-Sarganis and Stuart Siu
- Rouge River Winds, Pratik Gandhi
- Rowan University Wind Ensemble, Joseph Higgins
- Saugus High School, Corey Whitt
- Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School, Nigel Evans
- Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, Colin Van de Reep and Nathalie Roy
- T.A. Blakelock High School, Amy Abbott and Brian Vincent
- Unionville High School, Jeff Wrigglesworth
- University of North Carolina Wilmington, Dominic Talanca
- University of Toronto, Gillian MacKay and Jeff Reynolds
- W.J. Mouat Secondary School, Janet Wade
- William Mason High School, Edward F. Protzman
- Winona State University, Melanie Brooks
- Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.