When Ron Inouye first discussed a fanfare for the Arctic Winter Games to be held in Fairbanks
in 2014, he asked me to somehow represent the peoples of the north and to include something of
native drumming, particularly, Inuit drumming.
Since the fanfare is for the games, it needs to be able to be used in its entirity or in parts depending on how
much time or the purpose of the fanfare in a given situation. This fanfare is therefore composed with three
distinct sections that can be used separately or together depending on the circumstance.
The Opening four measures of the brass is reminiscent of much of my music representing the
Aurora Borealis. The Drumming is inspired by Inuit and Yupik drumming. I use the two different types
of drum and blend the drumming style of the Yupik and Inuit cultures in a bit of a western context.
The Yupik tradition of hard beat and soft beat is represented in the dynamics of the drums. The Inuit
tradition of establishing the steady beat and then passing rhythmic patterns between the parts is represented
throughout the work in all of the drum parts. There is a nod to Athabascan old time fiddle music in the
choice of an Irish/Scotish traditional melody entitled The Far North. This is also a traditional Canadian
Northern Tier American camping and scouting song. Finally, there is a traditional Fanfare that can be used
independently to call people to an event or back from an intermission.
It is my sincere hope that this fanfare represents all of us in some way and leaves enough to the listener,
that they will relate their own experience of the North in the music they hear.
James Bicigo
August 18, 2013