Kimberly Archer (b. 1973) is an American composer of music primarily for wind bands. Her works have been commissioned, recorded, and played by some of the world’s top ensembles. Among her many acclaimed works are 3 full symphonies for wind band and nearly a dozen works for young band. Originally from Illinois, she studied music education at Florida State University before completing graduate studies in composition at Syracuse University and the University of Texas at Austin. Her teachers have included David Maslanka and David Gillingham, among others. She is currently a Professor of Composition at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Archer wrote Awakenings in 2002, and she provides the following program notes on her website:
Awakenings was commissioned by the International Center for New Music at Central Michigan University. Directed by David Gillingham and Nico Schuler, the ICNM is dedicated to the creation, performance, and research of new music in schools.
In keeping with the ICNM’s mission, Awakenings exploits a 20th century tonal system not commonly found in the repertoire for younger bands: the octatonic collection. Also known as a diminished scale, it is a series of alternating whole and half steps (starting with either a whole or half step), totaling eight pitches. Common in the music of Bartok, Stravinsky, and Messiaen, as well as in jazz improvisation and film scores (including Danny Elfman‘s), the appeal of an octatonic collection lies in its unusual combination of available sonorities.
Listen to the official recording of Awakenings:
Read more about Awakenings at C. Alan Publications, Soundcloud, Archer’s website, and the Wind Repertory Project.
As the program notes suggest, the octatonic set can be found throughout the music of many other composers. Here is a primer on what it means and how it works:
Here is a Bernstein duet that uses it:
Bela Bartok’s “Diminished Fifth” also uses the scale: