The St. Olaf Band - "Temperance" by Aaron Perrine

The St. Olaf Band performs "Temperence" by Aaron Perrine. Conducted by Timothy Mahr.

From the Band's Spring Concert on April 9, 2017. View the complete performance here: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/pla...

ABOUT THE MUSIC:

With works in a variety of genres, Aaron Perrine’s music has been performed by some of the leading ensembles and soloists across the United States and beyond. He is a two-time winner of the American Bandmasters Association Sousa/Ostwald Award for his Compositions—Only Light in 2015 and Pale Blue on Deep in 2013. Only Light was included on the latest University of Kansas Wind Ensemble Klavier recording, released in late 2016. Additionally, April, another one of his compositions, was a finalist in the first Frank Ticheli Composition Contest and was included in the series, Teaching Music through Performance in Band. His music for band has also been featured at The Midwest Clinic, The Western International Band Clinic, and at numerous all-state, state conference, and honor band concerts. Perrine has received degrees from the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota, Morris. He is currently on the faculty at Cornell College.

FROM THE COMPOSER:

"Temperance was commissioned by a consortium of Minnesota universities, colleges, and high schools, and was premiered by the 2017 Intercollegiate Honor Band at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic. From the start, I knew I wanted the piece to be connected to the state of Minnesota: the place I’ve called home for most of my life.

"When I think of Minnesota, my mind tends to drift to the scenic stretch of Lake Superior between Duluth and Canada, locally referred to as the North Shore. While there are seemingly countless outdoor destinations along the North Shore from which to choose, the Temperance River has always been a personal favorite. Further, I knew this was an area many of the members of the consortium had lively visited. After contemplating some of the different directions I might take the work, I became intrigued by the word “temperance.” Most simply, the word is defined as “restraint.”

"From the chorale-like passages to the moments of nearly static harmony, the idea of “restraint” permeated my thoughts as I composed. Temperance is my response to the beauty, serenity, and solitude found along Minnesota’s North Shore."

Copyright © 2017 St. Olaf College. All Rights Reserved.
Music posted by permission of the composer.