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The solo clarinet features
prominently in blue cathedral. It was
the instrument played by Higdon’s
brother, who died of skin cancer shortly
before Higdon composed the piece.See also: Symphonie fantastique 162–163 ■ Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor 179 ■ Das Lied von der
Erde 198–201 ■ Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune 228–231 ■ The Lark Ascending 252–253 ■ Appalachian Spring 286–287CONTEMPORARY
Higdon siblings who played those
instruments. As Higdon is the
older sibling, the flute appears
first, followed by the clarinet.
This duet briefly returns near the
end, before the flute ceases, leaving
the clarinet (Andrew) to continue
its journey alone.
Additional extended solos are
presented by the English horn and
a violin; both are complemented
by smaller instrumental melodies
that represent the lives a single
person touches in his or her journey.
In the introduction and coda,
Higdon also experiments with the
percussion section, utilizing some
unorthodox orchestration, such as
crystal glasses and Chinese bells,
to create an ethereal atmosphere.The work premiered on May 1,
2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
with Robert Spano as conductor.
Musicians and critics lauded
Higdon’s ability to communicate
the universal themes of love,
life, and death. The work’s strong
lyricism, exploration of orchestral
color, and programmatic content
made it a great success, and it
became one of the 21st century’s
most popular compositions, with
some 600 productions (at all levels)
performed across the world.The Atlanta School
Following blue cathedral’s premiere,
Higdon began a long and fruitful
association with the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra led by Spano.The conductor initiated what
would become known as the
Atlanta School of Composers,
a group comprising Higdon,
Christopher Theofanidis, Osvaldo
Golijov, Michael Gandolfi, and
Adam Schoenberg. Although
diverse in musical style, the
composers are unified by their
dedication to tonality and melody,
as well as their incorporation of
world music and popular culture.
Together, they have redefined the
genre of contemporary music. ■Jennifer Higdon Jennifer Higdon was born in
Brooklyn, New York, in 1962,
and then moved with her family
first to Atlanta and then to the
Appalachian Mountains in
Tennessee. After teaching herself
to play the flute at the age of 15,
she began formal music studies
at 18 and went on to pursue
composition studies at graduate
level alongside two of America’s
most significant composers of the
20th century, Ned Rorem and
George Crumb.
Higdon has received many
awards, including the Pulitzer
Prize in Music for her ViolinConcerto, Grammy Awards
for her Percussion Concerto
and Viola Concerto, and an
International Opera Award for
her first opera, Cold Mountain,
based on the bestselling novel
of the same name by Charles
Frazier. Her popularity allows
her to compose exclusively
on commission.Other key works2005 The Percussion Concerto
2008 The Singing Rooms
2009 Violin Concerto
2015 Cold MountainUS_326-327_Higdon.indd 327 26/03/18 1:02 PM