Comet Coggia INGRID STÖLZEL
For Orchestra
INSTRUMENTATION:
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
F French Horn 1
F French Horn 2
F French Horn 3
F French Horn 4
C Trumpet 1
C Trumpet 2
C Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 1 (1 Player): Vibraphone
Percussion 2 (1 Player): Tam-Tam, Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle
Strings
The score is transposed.
PROGRAM NOTE:
“Comet Coggia” (2024) for Orchestra was inspired by the path of the Great Comet of 1874 (C/1874 H1). Discovered by the French astronomer Jérôme Eugène Coggia on April 17, 1874 in Marseille, it was visible to the naked eye by June 1874 and attentively observed in both hemispheres. As Coggia’s comet gathered strength, it caused quite a stir in the United States, and even a panic among some, so much so that Mark Twain satirized the comet in his short story “A Curious Pleasure Excursion” which was published July 6, 1874 in the New York Herald. There are many historical accounts of the comet’s path and observers noted a beautiful naked-eye tail lengths reaching 70 degrees as the comet passed closest to the Earth on July 23, 1874.
There are many composers throughout history who have written music inspired by comets, planets and the stars. For me, in addition to the music being inspired by the path of the comet, I was also envisioning the global connectedness and unity that comes with such an event. It serves as a reminder that no matter our nationality, beliefs or location on this planet, we all look up and share the night sky and the vastness and power of the universe.
“Comet Coggia” was commissioned by the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra to mark the 150-year anniversary of the orchestral program at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
DURATION: approx. 9 minutes
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