The Blue Mountains

Music of Sally Greenaway

First light,
Touching the farthest reaches of the mountains.
Slowly, the valleys unfold their beauty,
Drenched in the warmth of the sun.
A sight to behold...

The Blue Mountains was penned by composer Sally Greenaway whilst she was living abroad and feeling homesick. It is a miniature 'landscape painting' for orchestra, inspired by the beauty of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia.

The piece's opening moments - of lush strings delicately pierced with the harp - portrays the first light touching the tips of this ancient, rugged mountain range. Then, like a gently billowing mist, the music swells into a soaring melody, where the forested valleys and rocky escarpments are fully drenched in the warmth of the sun; the full beauty and of the scenery becomes a sight to behold.

Category: Orchestral, Wind Symphony, Brass Band; School Ensembles;
Instrumentation: Symphony Orchestra: (2,1+cor ang,2,1; 1,2,1+bass,1; timp; perc; hp; cel; str)
Year: 2010
Work duration: 2min
Difficulty/level: Medium-Advanced
Contact Sally
Category: Piano: Solo, Duets;
Instrumentation: Solo Piano
Year: 2010
Work duration: 2min 30sec
Difficulty/level: Grade 5-6
Digital Download

Versions of this work appear in these recordings

Aubade & Nocturne
Sally Greenaway
Released 2014

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Texas Music Educators Association Region 5 Orchestras (Recorded 2020)
Probst Audio
Released 2020

Performed by Texas Music Educators Association Region 5 High School Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Dr Frank M Diaz

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