Aurora Borealis 'A Tone Picture for Organ' Op439 (2003 rev 2007)

Dedicated to Jan Overduin on his 60th birthday, this work was premiered at the dedication recital of the new organ at Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada), given by Jan Overduin in October 2004. It was played again at the composer’s 70th birthday concert at St. George’s Anglican Church, Guelph (Ontario) later that month and broadcast on the CBC. Asked to comment on his work, the composer said: “What can I say? It is what it is; a little tone picture. The piece started life as a little experiment in ‘northernness’ and I soon realized, as an Australian who sees the Aurora as something quite miraculous, the possibility of pulling it into focus around the image of the Aurora. But that is hardly a program note”!

Listen to Rachel Laurin performing Aurora Borealis on 16th October 2007 at St Lawrence Jewry London