"KINGFISHER" A BIRD FOUND MOSTLY IN AFRICA AND THE OLD WORLD, WITH BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT COLORED FEATHERS THAT LOOKS IN SUNLIGHT AS IF IT IS ON FIRE. THEY ARE SHY AND RARELY SEEN. COMPOSED BY JOHN MACKEY. PERFORMED BY THE TMEA ALL STATE SYMPHONIC BAND
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Story behind the song
This is the second movement in this magnificent composition by the young and talented composer, John Mackey.
Kingfishers Catch Fire
I. Following falls and falls of rain
II. Kingfishers catch fire
The first movement, "Following falls and falls of rain," is suspended in tone, but with hope, depicting the kingfisher slowly emerging from its nest in the early morning stillness, just after a heavy rain storm. The second movement, "Kingfishers catch fire," imagines the bird flying out into the sunlight.
The work features optional antiphonal trumpets placed behind the audience. The trumpet solo in the first movement is played from the back of the hall, and the trumpet flourishes in the second movement are played by the antiphonal trumpet choir. You may catch the reference to Stravinsky's Firebird at the end of the piece.
A "kingfisher" is a bird with beautiful, brilliantly colored feathers that look in sunlight as if they are on fire. Kingfishers are extremely shy birds and are rarely seen, but when they are seen, they are undeniably beautiful. They are tropical birds found mostly in Africa and the Old World. There are about 90 species with three in N. America.