2025-26 Program Book - Other - Page 25
National Parks Suite No. 2 (2022)
JILL HALEY
(b. September 9, 1960)
Jill Haley is an oboist and English horn player with
the York Symphony Orchestra, among other groups.
Haley has composed a number of works inspired by
US National Parks, including Zion and Bryce Canyons
(Utah), Mesa Verde (Colorado), Badlands (South
Dakota), Acadia (Maine), Shenandoah (Virginia),
Bandelier (New Mexico), Wrangell/St. Elias (Alaska),
Big Cypress (Florida), Petrified Forest (Arizona), and
more.
National Parks Suite No. 2 is composed for oboe/
English horn and chamber orchestra, inspired
by residencies at Badlands National Park, South
Dakota, and Glacier National Park, Montana.
Orchestrated by David Himes, it was premiered June 1, 2022, at Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary, Kempton, Pennsylvania, by the Berks (PA) Sinfonietta conducted by Dr.
David McConnell. The composer was the soloist.
According to the composer, the Badlands was very windy during her residency.
Haley took this element and used it as a focal point for many of the pieces she
wrote while in residence. Sometimes the wind was intense, such as the time she
spent in the Sage Creek Basin area of the park. As a result, the first movement is
titled “Sage Creek Basin.” The music is very pleasant with a steady upbeat rhythm
and the oboe melody floating above the orchestra, reflecting a wide open, rolling
landscape, with waving scrub and grasses and an occasional tree. At other times,
the wind was gentler which led to the second movement, titled “Wind Hymn.” This
movement is calmer with more involvement from the other winds who accompany
the flowing, mellow sound of the English horn.
Upon arrival at Glacier National Park, the staff welcoming Jill said that the rain
that was currently falling would clear up. After a month living there with only one
sunny day, Jill embraced the water in all its forms: the weather of fog, rain, snow,
clouds, and the lakes, rivers, and ponds. “Clouds Over Apgar Range” is the slowest
movement, and the music matches images of snow and ice, with the English horn
capturing the foggy majesty and somber beauty of this part of the park. “Running
Eagle Falls” follows the melting water into streams, with the oboe once again
floating on top of the upbeat orchestral texture.
CLASSICAL SERIES BEETHOVEN'S SIXTH SYMPHONY 25
