THE HILL OF THREE WISHES
by Ben Morris
ALIAS PRESS
for orchestra
The Hill of Three Wishes
for orchestra
Total Duration: ca. 7’00”
Instrumentation:
2 Flutes (2nd doubling piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Bb clarinets
2 Bassoons
2 F Horns
2 C Trumpets
2 Trombones
Timpani
1 Percussion
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello Contrabass
Percussion instruments: Vibraphone, snare drum, suspended cymbal
Program Note
The Hill of Three Wishes is inspired by Helgafell, a sacred historical spot on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland. The hill has ruins of a pagan temple and church and was featured in two Icelandic sagas, Eyrbyggja saga and Laxdælla saga There is a folk legend associated with the site that says that if you climb the hill in silence without looking behind you, you will be granted three wishes at the top (and a spectacular view of the surrounding fjords). This piece borrows an Icelandic folk tune, “Stóð eg við Öxará” (“I Stood by Axe-river”), written about a waterfall at Thingvellir, a gathering of medieval Icelandic legislature. Many folks who visited this Helgafell site would also likely have traveled down to Thingvellir, through the transformation of Iceland’s major religion from Paganism to Christianity and the interesting religious crossovers that occurred.
© Copyright 2025 Alias Press
FHorn2
CTrumpet1
CTrumpet2
Trombone1
Trombone2
Timpani
Vibraphone
ViolinI
ViolinII Viola
Violoncello Contrabass
CTpt1
CTpt2
fadewithnaturaldecayofvibes
fadewithnaturaldecayofvibes
keeppedalonuntiltheend allowtodecaynaturally
fadewithnaturaldecayofvibes
Stephen
Stephen
GATES
Stephen
SYMPHONY NO.
Christopher
VIOLIN
WIND,
Stephen Lias – 10’
