The Light Shines in the Darkness: (wp) E-flat Contrabass Clarinet
By Barry Milner
Grade: 3.5 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0015137_wpECBC
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Description
A lighthouse stands upon a shoreline to be a beacon for all ships coming into a harbor. This beacon guides ships to safety that otherwise might have been destroyed by the rocks of the shoreline. This beacon also serves as a hope to those ships that are lost at sea. The light also refers to wisdom, compassion, and love. John 1:5 of the bible states that, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (NIV). The light in this passage refers to Jesus who was trying to reach out to a world that did not understand and was looking for hope.
"The piece is a good choice to teach lyrical playing and intonation in sustained chords."
-The Instrumentalist
"The piece is a good choice to teach lyrical playing and intonation in sustained chords."
-The Instrumentalist
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Light Shines in the Darkness: (wp) E-flat Contrabass Clarinet 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:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
134
SKU:
00-PC-0015137_wpECBC
More about this title
About the Composer: Barry Milner
Barry Milner is a freelance composer whose concert band and orchestra works appear regularly on state music lists and in publications including The Instrumentalist and School Band and Orchestra Magazine. His compositions for educational ensembles, such as "An Unending Legacy" and "In Honor of the Fallen," have established him as a voice in contemporary band repertoire, and his work has earned recognition from music retailers and editors nationwide.
Milner has taught in the Eureka Springs School District in Arkansas while continuing an active composition schedule that includes orchestral works currently in development. His musical inspiration draws from wide experience, including travel to national parks and engagement with film scoring. More information about his work is available at www.barrymilner.com.
Why we love this
Milner crafts a musically substantive piece that doesn't require extensive technical demands from your ensemble but delivers genuine depth in musical expression. The sustained harmonic writing creates an ideal teaching context for addressing intonation and blend in a meaningful concert setting rather than an isolated exercise. Directors appreciate works that serve both artistic and pedagogical goals at Grade 3.5, and this piece accomplishes both without compromise.
What to expect
The music embodies contemplative reverence without theatrical gesturing. Sustained chords and carefully voiced progressions create a sense of quiet strength and hope, allowing the imagery of light in darkness to unfold through harmonic color rather than surface gesture. The piece invites listeners into stillness while maintaining musical purpose throughout.
Who it's for
This work suits bands seeking spiritually grounded repertoire with genuine musical substance at an achievable technical level. Grade 3.5 ensembles will find the sustained harmonic writing both manageable and rewarding, particularly those working to refine tone production and intonation across the full section.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the inner voices carefully during sustained chord passages; a light rehearsal technique that emphasizes vertical listening will pay dividends in both intonation and tone quality.
- Allow the melodic lines to breathe naturally, resisting the urge to rush through transitions between harmonic areas.
- Establish a consistent vibrato approach among your woodwinds and brass to create cohesion across the sustained material.
- Use dynamic shaping within the quiet passages to maintain audience engagement; subtle swells and diminuendos prevent stillness from becoming static.
How to use it
Program this as a centering work in a concert featuring mixed sacred and secular literature, or open a concert with it to establish a reflective mood. The piece also serves well in festival or contest settings where judges value musical maturity and intonation control at the Grade 3.5 level.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained intonation in sustained chords
- Lyrical tone production and blend
- Inner voice balancing and listening
- Dynamic control in quiet passages
- Harmonic awareness and vertical alignment