Printed set (Score & Parts)
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe (optional)
Bassoon (optional)
Bb Clarinet 1 (div.)
Bb Clarinet 2 (div.)
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone 1 (doubling Bb Soprano Saxophone)
Eb Alto Saxophone 2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2 (doubling Flugelhorn)
F Horn 1/2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
Tuba (div.)
String Bass (optional)
Timpani
[Percussion 1] Vibraphone, Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Wind Chime
[Percussion 2] Marimba, Bass Drum, Vibraphone, Suspended Cymbal, 4 Tom-toms, Tam-tam
[Percussion 3] Glockenspiel, Chimes, Spring Drum, Vibraphone, Xylophone, Tambourine, Marimba, Triangle, 4 Tom-toms
[Percussion 4] Rain stick (or Wind Chime), Wind Chime, Sleigh Bells, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Vibraphone, Wood Block, Whip, Crash Cymbals
[Optional Percussion] Chime
One of my early works, Undersea fantasy (Kaitei no Fantasy), composed in 2010, holds special significance for me. It was commissioned and premiered by the Wakabayashi ku Wind Orchestra in Sendai (Wakasui) and later performed at a competition by Ashiya Middle School in Fukuoka, advancing to the Kyushu Regional Contest. It is the first piece in my career to be frequently selected as a free-choice work in band competitions.
Years later, I revisited the motifs from Undersea Fantasy and thought it would be intriguing to reimagine them in a new composition. Thus, in 2016, St. Elmo's Fire was born. This piece was premiered that year by the Nakama Higashi Middle School Band (Fukuoka). Built on three key melodies, it follows a slow-fast-slow-fast structure and is crafted to be both dramatic and engaging for performances in concerts and competitions alike.
The middle section's chorale features innovative orchestration, creating a pipe organ-like sound that highlights shifts in tone and color, making it highly expressive and dynamic.
The title, St. Elmo's Fire, refers to the natural phenomenon of luminous plasma discharge occurring at the tips of ship masts. In the Age of Exploration, sailors associated this phenomenon with St. Elmo, their patron saint, believing it to be a good omen for their voyages. Reflecting this imagery, the piece incorporates a strong sense of storytelling and entertainment.
(Hiroaki Kataoka)
World Parts Download
