Gardener’s Suite, by Sarah Houle, 2017, for Brass Quintet (Trumpet, Horn in F, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba).
Gardener’s Suite is a through-composed work in five parts depicting the cycle of the year through the eyes of a gardener.
- Part I: Awakening
- Part II: Planting
- Part III: Harvest and Barn Dance
- Part IV: Winds of Winter – Silent Cold
- Part V: Thawing
- Part I: Reawakening
The opening motive of Gardener’s Suite embodies anticipatory waiting as everything green begins to warm and awaken from months-long slumber. Lush harmonies flow as the earth springs to life and planting begins. Energy grows with tending the earth and sowing new seed, blooming into the rich time of harvest and plenty. The excitement builds into a frenzied barn dance and ends abruptly as the winds of winter usher in a time of silent cold and strip the trees of their warm fall colors. The earth slumbers in crystalline darkness. But soon, the sun brings longer days and warms the earth again. Water drips, then trickles and finally, roars through the earth calling everything to begin the cycle again.
Gardener’s Suite is dedicated to my parents, who tend their small parcel of land, growing an organic garden, raising free range chickens, observing wildlife and caring for the land.
Sheet music for “Gardener’s Suite” is available for purchase, either as a digital file or as physical paper scores. Physical paper scores will be printed on demand and will also incur shipping charges. Please use the contact form below to inquire about purchasing any of my work. Thank you!
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