Sighting the Swallow

The swallow is here a metaphor for constancy during a prolonged period away from home, travelling far and wide. It is a small, common bird that makes its home on every continent. Their ubiquity has made them symbols of familiarity for cultures across the globe. The piece begins inchoate and sparkling as songful horns carry the main idea. Gradually, the ensemble's swirling harmonies contract into a tightening spiral, flitting birdlike from key to key with increasing energy. Finally, the roving modulations stabilize, and the music, content, quietly returns to roost in the orchestra's highest register.