Description

A ‘ghostlight' is a light traditionally left shining on the stage of an otherwise dark
and empty theatre. During pandemic closures, many theatres kept
ghostlights burning to represent the promise of returning to the stage –
the light at the end of the tunnel. I wanted to write about how our
eyes adjust to and even find beauty in the dark. I also wanted to write
about how we, through our creativity and our caring for one another,
carry the light forward.

My symphony traverses the ever-expansive ‘travelling’ spirit of Whitman and John
Gould Fletcher to James Agee’s crystalline moment of wonder at eternity
and consolation in the face of loss, and ends jubilantly with Hardy’s Ghostlight.

- Alex Freeman

Instrumentation

3333 6331 23 2, pno, cel, str, chx [fl+afl, ehn, bcl, cbsn]

Category

Vocal and Choral Works, Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble

Language

En

Lyricist

Walt Whitman, John Gould Fletcher, James Agee, Rob Hardy

Premiere

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Music Centre Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, cond. November 11, 2022, Helsinki

Commisioned by / dedications

Commissioned by the Helsinki Music Centre Choir

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