Description
Order from publisher distributor or music retailer.
Wind octet with narrator. Duration: 28’00”. The exact instrumentation is: 2 oboes (II doubles English horn), 2 clarinets in A (I doubles E-flat clarinet, II doubles bass clarinet), 2 bassoons and 2 horns. Published by Boosey & Hawkes.
Six movements, each preceded by narration: I. The Depths: The Second Frontier; II. Dolphin; III. Puffer Fish; IV. Moray Eel; V. Shark; VI. Epilogue: The Future. Now also available for full orchestra.
VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE!! Enhance your performance for families with this delightful video. See below.
Listen
(Halama Wind Octet; Marlene Pauley, conductor; Mindy Ratner, narrator)
Video
An animated video is now available for use with Sea Creatures (for wind octet or full orchestra). In 2020 the Wichita Symphony Orchestra commissioned Scott Winters of Ion Concert Media to create the video. It was developed from artwork that Wichita Public School children created as they were inspired by Kallman’s music. The video is designed to synchronize with a live performance of the six-movement piece. Due to COVID restrictions, the Wichita Symphony presented the work virtually through the link above. Please check out the video, in which you can experience the animation, music and narration all together. Use the links below to obtain music and video for your own live performances.
Sea Creatures (score and parts) is available here: Full orchestra. Wind octet.
The video is available for purchase at Ion Concert Media.
Composer’s Notes
I was commissioned to compose this piece by the Halama Wind Octet of the Twin Cities, a superb group of professional musicians founded and conducted by Marlene Pauley. I spent a fun day at the Minnesota Zoo’s Discovery Bay getting ideas for the work by observing the aquatic life. There are six movements, each preceded by a narration that I wrote myself (with a bit of helpful ” tweaking” from Mindy Ratner who narrated the premiere). The movement titles are: I. The Depths: The Second Frontier; II. Dolphin; III. Puffer Fish; IV. Moray Eel; V. Shark; VI. Epilogue: The Future. The exact instrumentation is: 2 oboes (II doubles English horn), 2 clarinets in A (I doubles E-flat clarinet, II doubles bass clarinet), 2 bassoons and 2 horns. Sea Creatures is quite challenging both rhythmically and technically and definitely requires a competent conductor in addition to fine instrumentalists. It is perfect for young people’s concerts but appeals to all ages. The work has had several performances in Europe, Canada and the U.S.
