Op. 15, No. 1
Iris of the Earth
for Brass Choir + Percussion
2022 | Grade 5 | ca. 5:00
Score: $24.99 | Full Set: $74.99
“Iris of the Earth” is one of the most triumphant and explosive works in Chase McCay’s catalog. Featuring a brass ensemble of 12 (3.4.3.1.1) with 4 supporting percussionists, the work is adapted from the opening fanfare of his half-hour-long symphony, Verdant Anthology. “Iris of the Earth” showcases a diverse soundscape, from searing brass chords to the hazy wisps and murmurs of one of Yellowstone’s most iconic sights: the Grand Prismatic Spring.
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3 Trumpets in Bb, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trombones (1 Bass Trombone), Euphonium B.C., Tuba
Timpani, 3 Percussionists
The opening movement of Verdant Anthology is a dichotomy of tone. Situated near the Firehole River, The Grand Prismatic Spring is a hot spring measuring 370 feet across—the largest in North America. The spring is represented by two distinct musical ideas. The first is a Coplandesque and triumphant brass fanfare, which shows us a birds-eye view of its kaleidoscopic grandeur. The second—a mystic texture of hazy murmurs—brings us down toward the water, which is blanketed by a thin layer of steam and hot vapor. The Grand Prismatic Spring may be the most captivating sight in Yellowstone. While the surrounding terrain features endless hues of green and earthy brown, the magnificent hot spring is just the opposite: bright blue, with vibrant shades of red and gold branching from its great pool like a human iris gazing from the depths below. Large crowds of tourists are drawn here each day, and upon seeing the alien majesty, its message is clear: Welcome to Yellowstone.