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CAIT NISHIMURA
ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS for concert band
Duration: 3:45 Dif culty: Grade 3
Program note and publishing info:
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Flute 1, 2 Oboe Bassoon B♭ Clarinet 1, 2, 3 B♭ Bass Clarinet E♭ Alto Saxophone 1, 2 B♭ Tenor Saxophone E♭ Baritone Saxophone B♭ Trumpet 1, 2, 3 F Horn 1, 2 Trombone 1, 2 Euphonium (B♭ treble part included) Tuba Double Bass Piano Timpani Percussion 1 (Glockenspiel, Vibraphone) Percussion 2 (Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Glockenspiel) Percussion 3 (Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Tom)
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Instrumentation
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Ancestral Flyways is inspired by the remarkable journeys taken by hundreds of millions of migratory birds every year, as they travel great distances between their breeding grounds and wintering grounds and back again. Some species of birds migrate along established routes called yways. Birds navigate using a combination of powerful senses and environmental cues including the position of the sun and stars, Earth’s magnetic eld, and visual landmarks such as rivers and ridges. Juvenile birds are often able to migrate on their own to wintering grounds they have never been to before, guided by an innate connection to these places. Migration is considered one of the most dangerous times of a bird’s life, so making these journeys safely and successfully multiple times over a bird’s lifetime is quite miraculous. The music in Ancestral Flyways explores the combination of steadiness and urgency, gratitude and yearning, and moving forward while staying connected to the past. Moving inner lines represent owing water and the contours of the Earth as seen from above; rising and soaring melodies depict the magic of ight itself; and sparkling ostinatos re ect the stars that many birds rely on. The warm and radiant sections of music are meant to feel like the emotional release of coming home after a transformative journey– an experience shared by all human and non-human beings. A personal note from the composer:
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Just before the end of the piece, I have incorporated the melody from my most frequently performed piece of music, Chasing Sunlight, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year. Quoting Chasing Sunlight in this new piece is a way for me to honour my own transformative journey: the uncertainty, the growing pains, the trust in myself and connection to a deeper sense of knowing, and the joy and liberation of living a life that is aligned with what matters most to me. It also honours the community I’ve built through my music over the past decade, expressing the reverence and gratitude I feel for these beautiful reciprocal relationships.
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While I was composing this piece, I had the privilege of witnessing hundreds of Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) at a stopover site during their spring migration, a few of whom are pictured on the cover of this score. Partial proceeds from sales of this piece are donated to Birds Canada to support bird conservation projects. Thank you for helping support this important work! To learn more, visit www.birdscanada.org. Ancestral Flyways was commissioned by a consortium of 149 members from around the world. They are listed on the following two pages before the music begins. Thank you to everyone who supported this project! © Cait Nishimura 2026 (SOCAN) All rights reserved. Published by Cait Nishimura Music | caitnishimura.com Distributed by Just a Theory Press | justatheorypress.com Front cover photography and design by Cait Nishimura
Many thanks to the following 149 consortium members for supporting the creation of Ancestral Flyways:
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Acadia School Wind Ensemble - Chelle Jones (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Alexander Mackenzie High School Music Department - Kevin Vuong, Cher Alexander, Lindsey Berthiaume (Richmond Hill, ON, CAN) American Band College / WIBC - Scott McKee (Ashland, OR, USA) Barrhaven Community Concert Band - Megan Driscoll (Ottawa, ON, CAN) BBM Band - Erin Probst (Breslau, ON, CAN) Bellevue East High School Wind Ensemble - Jeremy Krug, Kaitlyn Keck (Bellevue, NE, USA) Birmingham Concert Band - Patrick Jensen (Birmingham, MI, USA) Bow Valley High School Symphonic Band - Taylor Grant (Cochrane, AB, CAN) Brent International School Manila Symphonic Band - Jonathan Thompson (Manila, Philippines) Britannia Secondary School - Kathy-Ann Nobbs-Thiessen (Vancouver, BC, CAN) Brookhaven Wind Ensemble - James Green (Brookhaven, MS, USA) Brooklin High School Winds - Andy Barber (Brooklin, ON, CAN) Brunswick High School - Brandon Duras (Brunswick, ME, USA) Calgary Tri-Service Cadet Massed Band - Emily Lor (Calgary, AB, CAN) Carberry Collegiate - Justine Burke (Carberry, MB, CAN) Cardijn College Wind Symphony - Levi Whitworth (Adelaide, South Australia, AUS) Center Moriches Middle and High Schools - Sara Greene and Paul Conefry (Center Moriches, NY, USA) Central Memorial High School - Adam Mailman (Calgary, AB, CAN) Cereal City Community Band - Tom and Denise Hedlund (Grand Ledge, MI, USA) Charles P Allen High School - Melissa Doiron (Bedford, NS, CAN) Christopher Jacob (Waterloo, ON, CAN) Citadel High Wind Ensemble - D. Devin Wesley (Halifax, NS, CAN) Clarington Concert Band - Giancarlo Binetti (Bowmanville, ON, CAN) CMEA Bay Section (CA, USA) Columbus Concert Band - Annamaria Mazzaferro, Tawny Louise Cortes (Toronto, ON, CAN) Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute - Claire Powell (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Dassel-Cokato High School - Aron Bohnert (Cokato, MN, USA) Detroit Symphony Civic Symphonic Band - Damien Crutcher (Detroit, MI, USA) Discovery High School Wind Symphony - Rob Myles (Lawrenceville, GA, USA) Duchess Park Secondary School - Jon Campbell (Prince George, BC, CAN) Dundas Concert Band - Julian Lam (Dundas, ON, CAN) Eastern Shore Consolidated School - Allison Penwell (East Chezzetcook, NS, CAN) École Charleswood School Grade 8 Concert Band - Jeff Boch (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) École McTavish Public High School - Ashley Brockway (Fort McMurray, AB, CAN) Ef ngham Jr. High School - Logan Andrews (Ef ngham, IL, USA) Etobicoke Youth Band - Les Dobbin, Mike Samotowka (Toronto, ON, CAN) Evan Hardy Collegiate Grade 10 Band - Jillian McLeod (Saskatoon, SK, CAN) Fort Richmond Collegiate - Shannon Little, Rob Monson (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Foshay Learning Center Symphonic Band - Claudio Alcantar (Los Angeles, CA, USA) Fredric Sandsmark (Redwood City, CA, USA) George McDougall High School Band Program - Jordan Harris (Airdrie, AB, CAN) Glen Rock High School Symphonic Winds - Matthew Peterson (Glen Rock, NJ, USA) Glenbrook South High School - Brian Boron, Cody Halberstadt (Glenview, IL, USA) Grand Rapids Community College - Shannon Shaker (Grand Rapids, MI, USA) Guelph Concert Band - Lauren Helmer (Guelph, ON, CAN) Harrisonburg High School Symphonic Band - Daniel Upton (Harrisonburg, VA, USA) Hart Middle School - Amy Rever-Oberle (Rochester Hills, MI, USA) Hastings College Band - Matt Rush (Hastings, NE, USA) Havergal College Concert Winds - Helen Geng (Toronto, ON, CAN) High Point University - Brian Meixner (High Point, NC, USA) Holy Cross Collegiate HS Band - Sarah Haughey (Strathmore, AB, CAN) Holy Cross Regional High School SWE - Jeff Cabralda (Surrey, BC, CAN) Holy Rosary High School - Aaron Sikora (Lloydminster, AB/SK, CAN) Holy Trinity - Mary Blais (Kanata, ON, CAN) Hopkins High School Bands - Nora Tycast (Minnetonka, MN, USA) Horace Mann High School Symphonic Band - Julia Laituri (North Fond du Lac, WI, USA) International School of Beijing - David Powell (Beijing, China) J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate - Melissa Warner (Ajax, ON, CAN) Jill Sparrow-Ng (Delta, BC, CAN) John Knox Christian School - Cara Lau (New Westminster, BC, CAN) Kawartha Lakes Concert Band - Murray Lefebvre (Kawartha Lakes, ON, CAN) Keene High School Concert Band - Joseph Conti (Keene, NH, USA) Kings County Concert Band - Oscar Thorp, Lio Krieger (Brooklyn, NY, USA) Lake Norman Charter High School Band - Justin Austenfeld (Huntersville, NC, USA) Lemoore High School Symphonic Band - Jego Canlas (Lemoore, CA, USA) Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Gold Symphonic Band - Samuel Yamamoto (Lethbridge, AB, CAN) Lincoln High School - Zachariah MacIntyre (Seattle, WA, USA) London Concert Band - Eric Heidenheim (London, ON, CAN) Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School Wind Ensemble - Adam Caringi (Toronto, ON, CAN) Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School - Jarrod Butler (Melbourne, Victoria, AUS) M.M. Robinson High School - Lee Banks (Burlington, ON, CAN) McLean High School Band - Chris Weise, Scott Weinhold (McLean, VA, USA) Meadow Lake New Horizons Band - Benjamin Giesbrecht (Meadow Lake, SK, CAN)
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Memorial University Bands - Dylan Rook Maddix (St. Johns, NL, CAN) Miami University Wind Ensemble - Daniel Farr (Oxford, OH, USA) Mike Chapple (Woking, Surrey, UK) Minnesota Junior Winds - Charles Weise (MN, USA) Mona Shores Bands - Justin Sarns, Jason Boyden, Nicole Wright (Norton Shores, MI, USA) Monona Grove High School Band - Cara Collins, Louis Menchaca (Monona, WI, USA) Montréal New Horizons Band - Colin Enright, Cédric Picard, Chloe Taschuk (Montréal, QC, USA) Moreno Valley High School Wind Ensemble - Trevor Vasquez (Moreno Valley, CA, USA) Moscrop Secondary School - Sydney Tetarenko (Burnaby, BC, Canada) Muskingum University - David Turrill (New Concord, OH, USA) New Albany High School - Nick Scroggins (New Albany, IN, USA) North Crawford High School - Derrik Junker (Soldiers Grove, WI, USA) North Trail High School Wind Ensemble - Keshini Senanayake (Calgary, AB, CAN) Northeastern State University Community-University Band - Alexandra Doyle (Tahlequah, OK, USA) Northern Crossing Music & Drama Society Community Band - Amber Misner (Rocky Mountain House, AB, CAN) Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan Symphonic Band - Amy Wilcox (Old Tappan, NJ, USA) Notre Dame Collegiate Music - Joel Windsor (High River, AB, CAN) Oak Park High School - Derek Fraser, Lindsay Donnick (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Otterbein University Wind Ensemble - Michael S. Yonchak (Westerville, OH, USA) OU New Horizons Band - Christopher Baumgartner (Norman, OK, USA) Paci c Symphony Youth Concert Band - Angela Woo (Orange County, CA, USA) Pembina Trails Collegiate - Cynthia Weevers, Rob Chrol (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Pembina Trails School Division - Alena Arnason (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Prospect High School Bands - Chris Barnum (Mt. Prospect, IL, USA) Rafael J. Morales Acevedo (Puerto Rico) Reavis High School Bands - Andrew Davis, Brandon Faust (Burbank, IL, USA) Red Deer Royals - Calista Lonsdale-Pangle (Red Deer, AB, Canada) Reynolds Secondary School Blue Band - Jamie Davis (Victoria, BC, CAN) Ron and Cathy Baer (Kitchener, ON, Canada) Rosemount High School 75th Anniversary, Symphonic Winds - Debbie Best (Montréal, QC, CAN) Rouge River Winds - Pratik Gandhi (Toronto, ON, CAN) Rowan University Bands - Joseph Higgins (Glassboro, NJ, USA) Sacred Heart Catholic High School - Michelle Ross, Kaitlyn Corrado (Newmarket, ON, CAN) Saigon South International School - Leif Larson (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) Saint Clair High School Bands - Micah Volz (Saint Clair, MI, USA) Samford University Wind Ensemble - Patrick E. Young (Birmingham, AL, USA) San Marino High School Wind Ensemble - William Lommel (San Marino, CA, USA) San Ramon Valley High School - Brant Nishida (Danville, CA, USA) Santa Clara High School - Johnny R Erdman (Santa Clara, CA, USA) Sardis Secondary School - Kris Werner (Chilliwack, BC, CAN) Saskatoon Community Bands - Peter England, Nick Fanner, Doug Gilmour (Saskatoon, SK, Canada) Sir William Mulock Secondary School - Chris Uchida (Newmarket, ON, CAN) St Matthew's Lutheran School - Justin Bessert (Oconomowoc, WI, USA) St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School Concert Band - Josh Geddis (Clinton, ON, CAN) St. Joseph High School - Shaun Bzdel (Saskatoon, SK, Canada) Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School - Colin Van de Reep (Foothills, AB, CAN) Telephone City Musical Society Band - Joshua Crouch (Brantford, ON, CAN) The Blake School - Brian Lukkasson (Minneapolis, MN, USA) The Nebraska Wind Symphony - Joshua Kearney (Omaha, NE, USA) The Prout School Concert Band - Ryan L. Cox (Wake eld, RI, USA) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Wind Orchestra - Jonathan Helmick (Edinburg, TX, USA) Thomas S. Wootton High School Bands - Susan Eckerle (Rockville, MD, USA) Toronto Concert Band - Les Dobbin, Ken Hazlett (Toronto, ON, CAN) Trafalgar Castle Band - Julian Smerdon (Whitby, ON, CAN) Triangle Pride Band - Bailey Rose (Raleigh, NC, USA) Unionville High School - Maggie Ho, Niloufar Barazesh (Markham, ON, CAN) United High School Band - Madeline Wood (Monmouth, IL, USA) United Nations International School of Hanoi - Scott Harbin (Hanoi, Vietnam) University of Central Arkansas - Dominic Talanca, Derek Stoughton (Conway, AR, USA) University of North Carolina-Greensboro - Jonathan Caldwell (Greensboro, NC, USA) University of Portland - Patrick Murphy (Portland, OR, USA) University of Prince Edward Island Wind Symphony - Dale Sorensen (Charlottetown, PE, CAN) University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Concert Band - Martin I. Gaines (La Crosse, WI, USA ) Wallace B. Jefferson Middle School - Gayle Calderon, Emily Laque (San Antonio, TX, USA) Washington and Lee University Wind Ensemble - Christopher Dobbins (Lexington, VA, USA) Wayne State College Symphonic Band - Michael Genslinger (Wayne, NE, USA) WCCA Concert Band - Amanda Sands (Windsor, ON, CAN) West Branch High School Concert Band - Lance Jones (Morrisdale, PA, USA) West Park High School - Patrick Neff (Roseville, CA, USA) Western Carolina University Symphonic Band - Jeremy Loui (Cullowhee, NC, USA) Westgate Mennonite Collegiate - Ross Brownlee (Winnipeg, MB, CAN) Wilfrid Laurier University Wind Orchestra - Leah McGray (Waterloo, ON, CAN) William Aberhart High School Symphonic Band - Nathan Gingrich (Calgary, AB, CAN) Youngker High School Symphonic Band - Freddy Ochoa (Buckeye, AZ, USA)
SCORE commissioned by a consortium of 149 ensembles and individuals from around the world
ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
Bassoon
Clarinet 1
Clarinet 2
Clarinet 3
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Euphonium
Piano
Timpani
Vibraphone
Snare Drum
Tom
pizz.
only play if no F Horn
© Cait Nishimura 2026 (SOCAN) All rights reserved. Published by Cait Nishimura Music | caitnishimura.com Distributed by Just a Theory Press | justatheorypress.com
only play if no F Horn
PE Double Bass
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Trombone 2
Tuba
Horn 1
Trombone 1
Trumpet 1.2.3
Horn 2
Bass Clarinet
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Oboe
E
R
A
O
with reverence and intention ( = 80)
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Flute 1.2
CAIT NISHIMURA
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
B Cl.
T. Sax.
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
Euph.
D. B.
Pno
Timp.
Vib.
S.D.
Tom.
a3
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Hn 2
Hn 1
Tba
R
Tpt 1.2.3
A. Sax. 1.2
Bar. Sax.
arco
E
Cl. 3
R
Cl. 2
O
Cl. 1
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Bsn
U
Ob.
SC
9 a 2 Fl. 1.2
5
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
T. Sax.
Hn 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
Euph.
Tba
D. B.
Pno
Timp.
Glock. 1
S.D.
Tom.
Glock.
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Hn 1
R
Tpt 3
Tpt 2
A. Sax. 2
Tpt 1
A. Sax. 1
Bar. Sax.
E
Cl. 1
R
Bsn
O
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Fl. 1.2 Ob.
16
B
SC
6
Vib.
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
T. Sax.
D. B.
Pno
Timp.
Vib.
B.D.
Sus. Cymb.
a2
a2
B.D.
a2
R
PE
Tba
Euph.
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Hn 2
Hn 1
Tpt 2.3
A. Sax. 2
E
A. Sax. 1
U
B Cl.
Tpt 1
Cl. 3
Bar. Sax.
C soaring, with ease ( = 72)
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a2
O
Cl. 1.2
SA L
Bsn
molto rall.
SC
23 Fl. 1.2 Ob.
7
Glock.
Sus. Cymb.
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
Cl. 3
B Cl.
T. Sax.
a2
a2
Hn 1
Hn 2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
Euph.
Timp.
Glock. 1
B.D.
Sus. Cymb.
Vib.
only play if no F Horn
only play if no F Horn
a2
Pno
D. B.
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Tba
R
Tpt 3
A. Sax. 1.2
Tpt 1.2
D gentle and determined ( = 96)
E
Cl. 2
R
SC
Cl. 1
SA L
Bsn
Bar. Sax.
a2
U
Fl. 1.2 Ob. 31
O
8
Glock.
Tri.
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
Cl. 2
T. Sax.
Tpt 3
Hn 1
Hn 2
Tbn. 1
Euph.
D. B.
Pno
Timp.
Vib.
Glock. 2
Tri.
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Tbn. 2
Tba
only play if no F Horn
only play if no F Horn
a2
a2
R
Tpt 1.2
a2
A. Sax. 1.2
B Cl.
Bar. Sax.
Cl. 3
SA L
Cl. 1
a2
E
Bsn
U
Ob.
R
O
SC
Fl. 1.2 39
9
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
Cl. 3
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1.2
T. Sax.
Hn 1
Hn 2
D. B.
L.H.
Sus. Cymb.
Solo
Timp. Vib. Glock. 2 Pno
Solo
PE
R
Euph.
Tbn. 2
Tbn. 1
Tba
Tpt 1
Tpt 2.3
E
Cl. 2
E re ective ( = 72)
R
Cl. 1
SA L
Bsn
U
Ob.
Bar. Sax.
SC
46 Fl. 1.2
O
10
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
B Cl.
A. Sax. 1.2
T. Sax.
Tpt 1
Tpt 2.3
a2
Hn 1.2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
a2
Euph. Tba
PE
D. B.
Pno
Timp.
Glock. 1
B.D.
Sus. Cymb.
B.D.
a2
R
a2
Tutti
Tutti
a2
Sus. Cymb.
a2
Glock.
a2
a2
a2
a2
E
Cl. 3
Cl. 2
R
Cl. 1
ying home ( = 72)
O
Bsn
SC
Ob.
F
SA L
Fl. 2
Bar. Sax.
molto rall.
U
Fl. 1 55
gaining momentum
11
a2
NISHIMURA - ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS
Cl. 2
Cl. 3
B Cl.
a2
Hn 1.2
Tbn. 1
Tbn. 2
Euph.
PE Tba
D. B.
Pno
Timp.
Glock. 1
B.D.
Sus. Cymb.
Tpt 2.3
a2
T. Sax.
A. Sax. 1.2
Tpt 1
a2
Vib.
at peace ( = 60)
E
Cl. 1
Bar. Sax.
R
Bsn
O
Ob.
SA L
Fl. 2
U
R
Fl. 1 62
SC
12
a2
E R O SC SA L U R PE
NISHIMURA: ANCESTRAL FLYWAYS JAT-161-043-FS
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