for orchestra (2013)
2 (picc).2.2.2. 4.2.3.1, timp+2, harp, pno, strings
duration: 7’
GRT • 165
YouTube
YouTube interview
CD available
The Magic Island
TSO, Ben Northey (cond.)
Hush
score available from
Australian Music Centre
program note
Arriving on a clear night by plane often provides beautiful views of a city’s lights mapping out the electric architecture of human civilisation. It’s a welcoming image – the guiding lights for travellers arriving at a new destination or returning home.
This piece was written for Ben Northey and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra as part of the Hush Foundation’s TSO recording project.
review
“Stuart Greenbaum’s unconventional and yet largely tonal orchestral composition, City lights, a Mile Up (2013) was recorded for the CD The Magic Island with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra under Benjamin Northey. The Illumination of city lights at dusk are evoked here by syncopated chords and glissandos in the strings.”
Hanns–Peter Mederer, Amusio, September 2015
“Queensland Symphony Orchestra delivered quality entertainment yet again with the latest instalment in their Music on Sundays series of events. Each event is built around a different theme. Entitled Great Inventions this show included music that is highly inventive and/or written in salute to great inventions.
The program featured a mix of the relaxing and thrilling. Beethoven’s Symphony No 3, Eroica the best of the latter category and Stuart Greenbaum’s City Lights a Mile Up the most soothing of the relaxing works. In this piece, the contemporary Melbourne based composer sought to capture the feeling on flying into a city and seeing the lights twinkling below your aircraft window. The piece was also specifically created to give listeners a feeling of calmness, which it most certainly delivered.”
Kitty Goodall, Stage Whispers, July 2021
“Stuart Greenbaum’s City lights, a Mile Up depicted the magical moment of flying in over a city, looking down at all the lights. This was a soothing, ethereal piece with a gently gliding melody decorated by glistening harp solos. The audience were carried off into the clouds.”
Claire Matthews, the creative issue, July 2021
“The penultimate piece was the peaceful ‘City Lights, A Mile Up’ by Greenbaum. This piece was influenced by, as Greenbaum says, “Arriving on a clear night by plane…beautiful views of a city’s lights mapping out the electric architecture of human civilization. It’s a welcoming image – the guiding lights for travellers arriving at a new destination or returning home.” This piece – with the surprising yet delightful addition of piano – was intensely lush and felt by all in the audience. The rich chords in the strings punctuated by a drone beat by mostly the harp and vibraphone kept the piece grounded while taking the audience upward.”
Fotini Box, Theatre Haus, August 2021