Murphy Music Press Witch of November - Jensen - Concert Band - Gr. 2

Composer: Moriah Margaret Jensen
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Grade: 2

The Witch of November is another name for the Gales of November, enormous storm systems that move across the United States Great Lakes every late autumn bringing with them rain, snow, sleet, hurricane-force winds, waves 20-30 feet high, and the promise that winter is on its way. Sailors on the Great Lakes refer to these storms as "The Witch" because of the howling, screeching winds that batter Great Lakes freighters. Storms like these are responsible for many famouse Great Lakes shipwrecks, including the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. To see these storms in action inspires awe and fear. There is great power in these storms and the Lakes that generate them.

In writing this piece, I wanted to capture what it might feel like to witness a Great Lakes gale from various perspectives. The music captures the fear of sailors who may find themselves caught in one of these great storms. It evokes the awe and majesty of these storms when witnessed from the safety of shore. Finally, it tells of the might and power of the Witch herself as she stirs up the Great Lakes to usher in the winter season. The Witch of November always comes, and with her no mercy for those who find themselves caught amidst her waves.

-Moriah Margaret Jensen