​apricity

for wind ensemble

Time: ca. 14'

Instrumentation: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, Eb clarinet, 4 Bb clarinets, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, 4 Bb trumpets, 4 F horns, 2 trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, double bass, piano, timpani, 6 percussionists

Availability: Direct all inquiries to hilarypurrington@gmail.com
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Program Note
apricity is a jubilant and vivid two-movement work for wind ensemble. The title is a now-archaic word that describes the warmth of sunshine during winter. This sensation, which looks ahead to springtime renewal and fairer weather, struck me as a poignant moment of joy and optimism. The movements’ titles, “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy” and “Joy is not made to be a crumb,” expand on this idea of seizing and savoring joys—especially the small and unexpected.

The first movement, “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,” opens with a clamorous motive that alternates with moments of resonance. A meandering melody, played by the piccolo, emerges during these resonant pauses. While the piccolo’s winding tune develops and reappears throughout the movement, the opening clamorous motive stretches into a defined melody that first appears in a soulful oboe solo. These two melodies—one quick-moving and meandering, and the other lyrical and expressive—alternate and return. At the first movement’s high point, the two melodies coincide: the high woodwinds sing out a lyrical melody in the foreground while the Bb clarinets play the meandering melody in the background. The movement ends with a reference to the work’s fragmented opening music and a final solo exploration of the lyrical melodic material.

The sprightly second movement, “Joy is not made to be a crumb,” opens similarly to the first: a gestural motive alternates with moments of rest and resonance, but the music’s lighthearted character is markedly different from the first movement. This lively motive expands in range and gathers force, eventually tumbling into a peaceful, contemplative passage featuring an emotive trombone solo. An emerging brass chorale swells and develops, eventually bringing the work to a joyful and resolute climax. The final measures recall the movement’s opening materials, now sounding against a shimmering veil of sound. 

Premiere
Commissioned by a consortium led by the University of Illinois Bands; premiered by the Illinois Wind Symphony and conductor Dr. Kevin Geraldi in September 2023.

Commissioning Consortium:
University of Illinois, Kevin Geraldi (lead commissioner)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jonathan Caldwell
University of Colorado, Don McKinney
University of Maryland, Michael Votta
George Mason University, William Lake, Jr.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Dominic Talanca
Western Carolina University, Margi Underwood
Penn State University, Tonya Mitchell Spradlin
Louisiana State University, Damon Talley
Texas Tech University, Sarah McKoin
University of Georgia, Nicholas Williams
Temple University, Trish Cornett
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Evan Feldman
University of Southern Mississippi, Catherine Rand
University of Central Arkansas, Michael Hancock
University of Tennessee, John Zastoupil
Appalachian State University, John Ross
Texas State University, Caroline Beatty
Illinois State University, Tony Marinello
Ball State University, Tom Caneva
University of South Carolina, Cormac Cannon
Virginia Tech, Derek Shapiro
University of Massachusetts, Matthew Westgate
Cal State Fullerton, Dustin Barr