A Canadian composer from Lethbridge, Alberta, composed a short symphonic piece that scored taiko! The Calgary Civic Symphony invited us to perform with them at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and we opened the concert with Hyacinth Caelum, composed by Rolf Boon.
"Hyacinth Caelum illustrates Lethbridge’s geography and cultural heritage. The work’s title is a reference to the blue skies that typically adorn the city’s prairie environment. The piece opens with a quiet horn section, whose glowing timbre evokes the warm rays of the sun, rising over the coulees. By the end of the work, the sun has fully risen—its progress is signified by a continuous orchestral crescendo taking place over the entire fanfare’s duration. In reverence of Lethbridge’s rich cultural heritage, the piece features percussion that evokes the Japanese Taiko tradition."
Before moving into the main hall to perform onstage with the orchestra, our group performed on the small recital stage in the Jack Singer Lobby, as part of the pre-concert chat. About 30 minutes before the concert, artists may give a short presentation, interview, or demonstration to feature a special instrument or person who will be performing in the concert. After that was finished, two of our members joined the full orchestra onstage to perform Hyacinth Caelum.