Eye of the Hawk was inspired by the beautiful and majestic Hudson Valley. I wanted to base the piece on something that would resonate with the band who would be premiering it,… my local, exceptional, middle school band. The hawk became our spirit animal, and represented to me many of the qualities that are inherent in a young person of that age – bold, instinctive, elegant – a fierce creature who “owns the sky”. The music conveys power, freedom, and confidence. Just like the students. -Susan Botti

Instrumentation

1- Conductor

1- Piccolo

5- Flute 1

5- Flute 2

2- Oboe

2- Bassoon

4- B-flat Clarinet 1

4- B-flat Clarinet 2

4- B-flat Bass Clarinet

2- E-flat Contralto Clarinet (opt.)

2- E-flat Alto Saxophone

2- B-flat Tenor Saxophone

1- E-flat Baritone Saxophone

4- B-flat Trumpet

4- F Horn 1

4- F Horn 2

4- Trombone

2- Baritone B.C.

2- Baritone T.C.

4- Tuba

1- Timpani

2- Percussion 1

2- Percussion 2

2- Percussion 3

2- Percussion 4

2- Percussion 5

1- Percussion 6

1- Percussion 7

Meet The Composer

As composer and performer, Susan Botti’s eclectic background and experiences are reflected in her music. Theatre and the visual arts play a formative role in the aesthetic of her work. Her musical explorations have encompassed traditional, improvisational and non-classical composition and singing styles.

Botti is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the Goddard Lieberson Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters; a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize; and grants from Meet The Composer, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Aaron Copland Fund, The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The NY Foundation for the Arts, The Greenwall Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, ASCAP, and the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts. She was the third Daniel R. Lewis Young Composer Fellow with the Cleveland Orchestra. Additional orchestral commissions include works for the New York Philharmonic, and The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Among Botti’s recent works is: Gates of Silence, (Albany Records) a group of 3 works for violin & piano; piano trio; and piano trio plus soprano (Botti). Inspired by Virgil’s Aeneid, it incorporates poetry by National Book Award finalist, Linda Gregerson. This poetry, Dido Refuses to Speak, was awarded a 2011 Pushcart Prize.

In addition to performing her own vocal works, Botti specializes in the performance of contemporary music by composers of diverse styles, including: Gubaidulina, Kurtág, Chihara, Pintscher, Matheson, and Cage, among others. Composer/conductor Tan Dun created several major works highlighting her vocal and theatrical talents, including the role of “Water” in his internationally renowned opera, Marco Polo (Sony Classical).

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Botti’s early training included studies in music, art, and theater. She received her Bachelor of Music from the Berklee School of Music; and her Masters in Music Composition from the Manhattan School of Music. She is a member of the Composition faculties at the Manhattan School of Music , and at Vassar College. www.susanbotti.com

About The Premiere

Eye of the Hawk was premiered by The Linden Avenue Middle School Band, Red Hook, NY, directed by Andy Van Ness in The Sosnoff Theater, The Fisher Center, Bard College, on June 1, 2015.

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