The Saskatchewan Suite
Saskatchewan All Stars Big Band
April 2021
The Saskatchewan Suite Movement I - The Place There is no place better to begin than with the land herself. The Place depicts the landscape as it shifts from sandy dunes and quiet forests to the open skies and rolling prairie below. A place where the summers are warm and the winters are severe. When the tempo picks up, we join the bustling towns and cities of the province. Movement II - The First The First honours the original Indigenous peoples of the land. A steady beat serves as the backbone of a movement that explores a variety of rhythms depicting strength and perseverance as it moves towards a powerful conclusion. This was the most challenging movement to write and the first movement to be completed. Movement III - The Newcomers Trains bring immigrants and explorers to Saskatchewan from across the world. The Newcomers draws inspirations from Western and Eastern European-style folk songs and dances, aiming to explore the struggles of finding a place in an unfamiliar land. There are struggles with isolation and loneliness, but there is also celebration and hope for the future.
