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Deep Field
Browse CatalogOrchestra, SATB Chorus & Smartphone App
Note from Composer
Deep Field was inspired by the world’s most famous space observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and its greatest discovery – the iconic Deep Field image. Turning its gaze to a tiny and seemingly dark area of space (around one 24-millionth of the sky) and left for a 10-day long exposure, the Hubble Space Telescope revealed over 3,000 galaxies that had never previously been seen, each one composed of hundreds of billions of stars.
The new film – Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe – illuminates the score by combining Hubble’s stunning imagery, including never-seen-before galaxy fly-bys, with bespoke animations to create an immersive, unforgettable journey from planet Earth to the furthest edges of our universe. The film is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Grammy® award-winning composer & conductor Eric Whitacre, producers Music Productions, scientists and visualizers from the Space Telescope Science Institute and multi award-winning artists 59 Productions. The film features Virtual Choir 5: more than 8,000 voices, aged 4-87, from 120 countries around the world.
The smartphone App playing the Deep Field electronica should be triggered by audience members from bar 217 to the end of the piece, as cued by the conductor. This should be downloaded in advance of the performance and is available via the App Store and Google Play Store. Search “Deep Field” in the respective store to locate the App and download.
The work was co-commissioned by Minnesota Orchestra and BBC Radio 3. It premiered with the Minnesota Orchestra & Minnesota Chorale on 8 May 2015 in Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, conducted by Eric. The second performance & European premiere took place at the BBC Proms on 9 August at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers & BBC Chorus, once again conducted by Eric.
Contact Music Productions for film licensing requests.
Instrumentation
Flutes 1, 2 & 3 (3rd doubling Piccolo)
Oboes 1, 2 & 3
Clarinets in B♭ 1, 2 & 3
Bassoons 1 & 2
Contrabassoon
Horns in F 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Trumpets in C 1, 2, 3 & 4
Tenor Trombones 1 & 2
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 1, 2 & 3
Vibraphone (+ bow)
Crotales (+ bow)
Bass Drum
2 Side Drums with Snares
Suspended Cymbal (Large)
Tam-tam (Large)
Harp
Piano
Chorus (SATB)
Organ (optional)
Smartphone App
15 x Violin I
13 x Violin II
12 x Viola
9 x Violoncello
7 x Contrabass
Duration
23 minutes
Year of Composition
2015
Licensing
Hire
Recording
Concert Band, SATB Chorus & Smartphone App
Note from Composer
Deep Field was inspired by the world’s most famous space observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and its greatest discovery – the iconic Deep Field image. Turning its gaze to a tiny and seemingly dark area of space (around one 24-millionth of the sky) and left for a 10-day long exposure, the Hubble Space Telescope revealed over 3,000 galaxies that had never previously been seen, each one composed of hundreds of billions of stars.
The new film – Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe – illuminates the score by combining Hubble’s stunning imagery, including never-seen-before galaxy fly-bys, with bespoke animations to create an immersive, unforgettable journey from planet Earth to the furthest edges of our universe. The film is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Grammy® award-winning composer & conductor Eric Whitacre, producers Music Productions, scientists and visualizers from the Space Telescope Science Institute and multi award-winning artists 59 Productions. The film features Virtual Choir 5: more than 8,000 voices, aged 4-87, from 120 countries around the world.
The Deep Field App
The smartphone App playing the Deep Field electronica should be triggered by audience members from bar 217 to the end of the piece, as cued by the conductor. This should be downloaded in advance of the performance and is available via the App Store and Google Play Store. Search “Deep Field” in the respective store to locate the App and download.
Contact Music Productions for film licensing requests.
Lead Commissioner
Dallas Winds
Co-Commissioners
University of Texas
Baylor University
University of Oklahoma
Texas Tech University
University of Kansas
Royal Australian Navy Band
Instrumentation
Flutes 1, 2 & 3 (3rd doubling Piccolo)
Oboes 1, 2 & 3 (3rd doubling English Horn)
Clarinets in B♭ 1-9
Bass Clarinets in B♭ 1 & 2
Contrabass Clarinet in B♭
Bassoons 1, 2 & 3 (3rd doubling Contrabassoon)
Alto Saxophones 1 & 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Horns in F 1-6
Trumpets in B♭ 1-4
Trombones 1, 2 & 3 (3rd Bass)
Euphoniums 1 & 2
Tubas 1 & 2
Percussion 1-6
Crotales (2 sets)
2 Vibraphones
2 Marimbas
Suspended cymbal (Medium)
Tam-tam
2 Snare drums
2 Bass drums
Timpani
Double Bass
Harp
Piano
Organ (Optional)
Chorus (SATB)
Smartphone App
Duration
23 minutes
Year of Composition
2016
Licensing
Purchase
US: J.W. Pepper
UK: Music Room
World: Music Shop Europe
Digital: Sheet Music Direct
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