"The Sleeping Place of the Stars" is a piece of band music literature written by Ralph Ford. He was commissioned by the Homewood, Alabama Middle School Band to write the tune, with the inspiration coming from a poem of the same title written by Ethel Armes. The poem contains the line "I have found the sleeping place of the stars. It is in Shades Valley... down, way down into the depths of Green Eternal...".
Shades Valley was once a very dense forest, located at the present-day site of Homewood, Alabama. Lying against the Appalachian mountains, the foliage was so thick that even local Native Americans frequently got lost in the valley while hunting. Even so, the Native Americans held annual rituals there to welcome the arrival of Spring.
The Sleeping Place of the Stars is divided into parts. Flute solos, accompanied by light oboe or clarinet parts, are a recurring theme in the piece. The piece opens with what could be considered the main theme of the entire piece.
The piece then moves into the part called the Valley of Darkness. This section features the rainstick. There is whispering amongst some of the woodwind instruments, and a notable flute solo is performed here.
The following passage is entitled The Green Corn Dance, the name of the local Indian's Spring ritual. This part includes foot stomping, hand clapping, and vocal "hahs" among some of the woodwinds. After the Green Corn Dance, the piece moves back into the main theme of the song, Shades Valley.
The piece then soars into Depths of Green Eternal, a part which has a half-time feel, and the piece ends.
"The Sleeping Place of the Stars" was published in 2002 and is played by bands of varying ages across America, including marching bands, middle school and high school bands.
Famous quotes containing the words sleeping, place and/or stars:
“sometimes sleeping in the open
I think backwhen I had you.”
—Gary Snyder (b. 1930)
“... the hey-day of a woman’s life is on the shady side of fifty, when the vital forces heretofore expended in other ways are garnered in the brain, when their thoughts and sentiments flow out in broader channels, when philanthropy takes the place of family selfishness, and when from the depths of poverty and suffering the wail of humanity grows as pathetic to their ears as once was the cry of their own children.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)
“I, who had heard of music in the spheres,
But not of speech in stars, began to muse:
But turning to my God, whose ministers
The stars and all things are; If I refuse,
Dread Lord, said I, so oft my good;
Then I refuse not ev’n with blood
To wash away my stubborn thought:
For I will do or suffer what I ought.”
—George Herbert (1593–1633)