Work
Emperor
for orchestra
Films, Audio & Samples
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About
Emperor is an episodic piece, written to narrate the year in the life of emperor penguins in Antarctica.
The first section, 'Ice Shelf', aims to describe the openness; coldness; and grandness of the Antarctic continent, before focusing on the flightless denizens, the emperor penguins, in the next section, 'Colony'. This section is lighter, more humorous, and aims to show the busyness and awkwardness of the penguin colony, before turning much darker as the sun disappears, and 'Winter' comes.
'Winter' is dark, desolate, and desperate; the penguins must huddle together for warmth until the sun finally breaks over the horizon after months of absence. Their new chicks hatch in this springtime, and the next section, 'Fledglings' begins.
Finally, the maturing chicks leave their nests and make it to the ocean, ready to fish and to breed, until they return to the colony once again, and the cycle starts over.
Contents note
Four sections: 'Ice Shelf', 'Colony', 'Winter', and 'Fledglings'
Performance history
30 Oct 2021: Recorded by Orchestra Wellington at the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
13 May 2023: Manawatū Sinfonia | Autumn Concert