Canticle of Light: Viola
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0019133_VA1
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Description
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:
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: Viola comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin String Orchestra - PerformancePlus+
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019133_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan brings four decades of experience in music education to his work as a composer and arranger. A Virginia native with degrees from Bridgewater College and James Madison University, he spent 36 years directing bands in Albemarle County before transitioning to university supervision and adjunct teaching at JMU. His compositions and arrangements have reached audiences at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the White House, and major state ceremonies, reflecting a career marked by both classroom leadership and creative output.
Fagan's contributions to music education have been recognized through multiple state awards, including selections as an Outstanding Educator by the Virginia Governor's School and the Piedmont Council of the Arts. He remains active as a clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band, where he also serves as Assistant Director. His professional affiliations include ASCAP, the National Band Association, and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association.
Why we love this
Fagan captures something genuinely important here: the resilience of musicians and the profound joy of returning to live performance. The piece avoids sentimentality while delivering real uplift, making it equally effective as a concert opener that reconnects audiences with the power of ensemble music or as a meaningful festival selection that resonates with ensembles who lived through that isolation. At Grade 3, it's accessible enough for developing orchestras but orchestrated with enough sophistication to hold the attention of accomplished players.
What to expect
Canticle of Light radiates optimism without artifice. The orchestration unfolds with a sense of forward motion and quiet triumph, as though musicians are reclaiming their voice after a long silence. It feels both celebratory and reflective, honoring what was lost while affirming what's been regained.
Who it's for
This work suits any string orchestra program looking for repertoire that speaks to contemporary experience while maintaining musical substance. It works especially well for orchestras seeking festival or concert selections that performers will engage with meaningfully, not just technically.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the heroic character with clarity in the string parts; rhythmic precision in tuttis will make the uplift land powerfully rather than sound thick.
- Use the PerformancePlus+ resources in MakeMusic Cloud to identify technical passages that need sectional work before full rehearsals, building confidence efficiently.
- Shape the phrasing with long, connected lines rather than chopping at bar lines; this piece breathes best when strings commit to sustained, singing tone throughout.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener that sets a hopeful, energized tone, or pair it with contrasting baroque and contemporary works to frame a season focused on ensemble renewal. It also serves powerfully in festival or competition contexts where the context of the piece amplifies its meaning without requiring explanation.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legato phrasing across multiple measures
- Rhythmic precision in unison and divisi passages
- Dynamic control and shaping in full orchestral textures
- Intonation in extended string chords and harmonic progressions