1990
Aurora Borealis
for percussion quartet
duration: 11'30"
Aurora Borealis draws its inspiration from the arctic phenomena also known as the Northern Lights. The author Barry Lopez (in Arctic Dreams) has described the aurora as “pale gossamer curtains of light that seem to undulate across arctic skies…The most remarkable effect they seem to have…is to draw a viewer emotionally up and out of himself, because they throw the sky into a third dimension…” My composition is meant to reflect this view of the aurora — its shimmering, almost tangible quality, its envelopment of the senses, its meditative, spiritual presence.
Aurora Borealis is a popular piece for college percussion ensembles and has multiple performances available through my YouTube channel. “The theater was finally dark enough for the Marilyn Bliss piece Aurora Borealis which celebrated the gossamer curtain of light projected above and behind the ensemble. As they played we were drawn into a meditative reverie by the spiritual presence of this natural beauty.” – John Campbell, on ODU Percussion Ensemble performance. Premiered by the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble on May 17, 1990.
Instrumentation is 2 vibraphones, 1 glockenspiel, 3 suspended cymbals, wood block, temple blocks, marimba, crotales, tam-tam, glass chimes, ceramic chimes, sleigh bells, maracas.
Media & Mentions
Performed by the Millikin University Percussion Ensemble, 2020
Performed by the JMU Percussion Ensemble, 2019
“Much like the northern lights, Marilyn Bliss’s “Aurora Borealis” is hauntingly beautiful, if not unpredictable. As Kirkland’s lights splash and mesh colors together on the screen, dissonant clashes on temple blocks and gongs fade into ringing wind chimes.”
