Instrumentation: Oboe, English Horn, and Clarinet

Duration: 3 minutes

Program Notes

“From North to South,” was commissioned by the Larkspur Reed Trio to acknowledge the achievements of Minnesotan explorer, Ann Bancroft, who is most famously known as the first woman to cross both ice caps to reach the North and South Poles.  

This piece explores, musically, Ann’s 2001 expedition to the South Pole across the continent of Antarctica with her friend Liv Arnesen.  Faced with many obstacles and challenges along the way, the two women pursued their goal with perseverance, strength, determination, and faith.  We can learn many lessons from their example. First, you must learn to trust when you cannot see the path before you.  Second, if you are doing what you are born to do, the journey will be easier. And finally, the path is not without its obstacles and challenges. We must remember to ask for help when things get difficult, and to recognize when it’s time to change course and take a different path.