Lake Craigie, Ralph Hultdren, Concert Band Grade 3

A lake of thick fog sits heavily in the valley of outside John and Penny Judges home in Craigie, a locale situated outside of Bombala, in the high country of NSW. It is as if you could walk out on it, fish in it, or even swim, except for how invigoratingly brisk it is at that time of day. The sun glistens on the lake as it lifts its head to bring in the dawn. The birds cast overhead wend their way to feed and flutter. A gentle eucalyptus scent emanates from the bush, energised by the ever-warming sunshine, wafting through nostrils and lifting the heart. At the bottom of the lake in the valley, with the fog has gone and the sun ebbing away toward evening, platypus are can be found foraging around the creek. Its an irresistibly beautiful and wonderfully peaceful place. John Judge commissioned this work for the Bombala Schools Bands for premiere by the ensemble in 1991. Lake Craigie is the middle movement of the triptych that was the Monaro Suite: 1 Gateway to the Alps, 2 Lake Craigie, 3 Eden’s Coast and the Sea. It was found by the composer in a drawer, hidden since 1995 but rediscovered in recent reminiscing. The suite is the sibling of High Country, another John Judge commission.