The following three collections of music are a resounding call Back to Nature. Step out of the concrete jungle of the city and re-engage with the natural world through music inspired by our beautiful Earth. We have collected orchestral, chamber, solo, vocal, choral, and band pieces all inspired by nature. Enjoy the music of "Ocean," "Earth," and "Sky" on our Spotify playlists, and learn more by clicking each individual title.
Ocean
Dive into Schirmer's ocean of music, and be swept away by this hauntingly beautiful collection. From the delicate white foam of the waves, to the dark depths of the lonely ocean, this grouping of music embodies the entire expanse of the sea.ORCHESTRAErnest Bloch — Poems of the Sea
Mikalojus Ciurlionis — The Sea, Poem for Large Orchestra and Organ
Augusta Read Thomas — Words of the Sea
Virgil Thomson — Sea Piece with Birds
ORCHESTRA WITH CHORUS
Philip Glass — Itaipu
CHAMBER WITH VOICE
Per Nørgård — Seadrift
SOLO
Peter Maxwell Davies — Sea Eagle — horn
Bedrich Smetana — By the Seashore (A Memory) — piano
Earth
These spectacular pieces were inspired by the vastness of the Grand Canyon, the sheer magnitude of the mountains, and the incredible trees of the forest. The wide range of composers and subject matter allows this kaleidoscopic collection of music to dazzle and resonate.There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.
— Lord Byron
ORCHESTRA
Mikalojus Ciurlionis — In the Forest, Symphonic Poem
Francesco Geminiani — The Enchanted Forest, ed. Newell Jenkins
Philip Glass — The Canyon
Morton Gould — Amber Waves — on "America the Beautiful"
Ferde Grofé
— Death Valley Suite
— Grand Canyon Suite
— Hudson River Suite
— Mississippi (A Tone Journey)
Alan Hovhaness — Mysterious Mountain (Symphony No. 2)
Landon Ronald — Down in the Forest — vocal soloist
Joan Tower — Sequoia
Judith Weir — Forest
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Mikael Edlund — Earth
Augusta Read Thomas — Resounding Earth
CHAMBER WITH VOICE
Mikael Edlund — Leaves
Oscar Rasbach — Leaves
Sky
This collection of works serves to awaken your imagination as you look to the sky. These talented composers have written evocative and palpable themes and rhythms with a rainbow of musical colors. They are all informed by the life and mysteries of the world above, and are sure to inspire.ORCHESTRAPhilip Glass — Hymn to the Sun, from "Akhnaten" — countertenor soloist
Per Nørgård — Twilight
Judith Weir — The welcome arrival of rain
ORCHESTRA WITH CHORUS
Judith Weir — Moon and Star
CONCERT BAND
Augusta Read Thomas — Dancing Galaxy
SINFONIETTA
Augusta Read Thomas — Carillon Sky — violin or saxophone soloist
CHAMBER
Augusta Read Thomas
— Eagle at Sunrise — string quartet
— Sun Threads — string quartet
Joan Tower
— Big Sky — piano trio
— Snow Dreams — flute and guitar
CHORUS AND ENSEMBLE
Edward Elgar — The Snow
