Opus 406

Wild Sunrises (2002)

for Organ

Duration: 8.5 min.

Dedication: for Cherry Rhodes

Publisher: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. in "Carson Cooman: Organ Music, Vol. 2"

Performance materials available from the publisher.

Wild Sunrises (2002) was written for and is dedicated to Cherry Rhodes. The work was specifically inspired by her playing. The conception of the work takes a vivid sunrise as its image. The work begins in the stillness of early dawn. High and low repeated notes surround a long-breathed and developing melody that continually rises from the lowest to higher registers. A transformation of this melody is then presented in canon over ethereal chords which build. Finally, a single note is left hanging, which increases in volume to full organ. Suddenly the sunrise itself breaks forth in an ecstatic and wild dance of rhythms and colors. Melodies from the first section of the work become transformed into a joyous toccata. The energy drives straight through to the end of the work.