Canticle of Light: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD

Canticle of Light: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Canticle of Light: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49949
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Gary Fagan

Grade: 3

Item: 00-49949

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Canticle of Light, by Gary Fagan, is an uplifting and heroic piece that was created to herald a "return to normal" following more than two years of quarantine and social distancing, which took a considerable toll on nearly every citizen of the world. Performing arts organizations canceled thousands of performances, and many music and theater programs suffered from an inability to rehearse in person. Yet, many programs continue to thrive, and public performances have resumed. This piece is a celebration of---and tribute to---the musicians, dancers, and actors who continued to hone their craft in relative isolation to prepare for the time when they could once again perform for appreciative, in-person audiences. (3:35)

The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:

Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
Piece-specific exercises focused on skills and techniques
Educational tips and suggestions to support learning

Available in print and digital formats.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Canticle of Light: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Belwin String Orchestra - PerformancePlus+

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-6258-2

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6258-5

UPC: 038081579795

SKU: 00-49949

More about this title

About the Composer: Gary Fagan

Gary Fagan spent 36 years directing bands in Albemarle County before transitioning to university work at James Madison University, where he now supervises student teachers and teaches arranging as adjunct faculty. His compositions and arrangements have traveled from regional festivals like the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to performances at the White House and a gubernatorial inauguration, earning him recognition as Central Virginia's Outstanding Middle School Teacher and multiple educator awards from the Virginia Governor's School and Piedmont Council of the Arts.

Beyond the classroom, Fagan remains active as a percussionist and assistant director with the Charlottesville Band, a clinician for festivals and adjudication panels, and a member of ASCAP and the National Band Association. His engagement with MENC and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association reflects his commitment to the broader music education community.

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Why we love this

Fagan wrote this piece with a clear emotional purpose: honoring the resilience of young musicians who sustained their craft through isolation and now return to the concert stage. The heroic character and uplifting trajectory make it genuinely satisfying to conduct and perform, avoiding the polished-but-hollow feeling of many occasion pieces. At Grade 3, the orchestration sits in that sweet spot where every section gets rewarding material without excessive technical burden.

What to expect

Canticle of Light opens with a sense of cautious awakening, then builds toward something genuinely triumphant and affirming. The piece balances lyrical warmth with heroic declarations, creating a narrative arc that feels earned rather than imposed. You finish it wanting to stand up.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the middle school or early high school level looking for repertoire with genuine emotional substance and programming flexibility. Directors who want students to feel the weight of what they're performing, not just execute notes on a page.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening carefully to establish that sense of emergence and hope; resist the urge to rush the early phrases even as the music builds momentum.
Balance the string sections so the dialogue between upper and lower voices remains clear through the heroic passages; doubling lines in rehearsal can help younger players find their independence.
Maintain consistent intonation during the lyrical sections by having students sing through their parts in sectionals before full rehearsals, especially on sustained chords that underpin the emotional arc.
Record yourself conducting a run-through and listen critically to the pacing in the climactic moments; the heroic character needs breathing room, not relentless forward motion.

How to use it

This works powerfully as a concert opener or closing piece when you want to set a reflective, forward-looking tone. It's also well-suited for festivals and competitions where you need repertoire that impresses adjudicators while remaining accessible to Grade 3 musicians. Consider pairing it with lighter works to let its emotional intensity breathe.