Johnson, Jim H.: Celestial Flight

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth..." Inspired by the poem "High Flight” this work takes musical flight with sweeping woodwinds and mallets soaring above the cinematic melodic statement by brass. The highly rhythmic melody soars upward to the middle, lyrical section which seems to float effortlessly through the upper reaches of the sky. As the sustained expressive melody reaches it's musical apex it reunites with the opening material to finish with a swift and breathtaking finish.