Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis

Symphony No. 3: Beyond Horizon

for orchestra (2026)
3(3=picc).3(E.hn.).3(3=bcl).3(3=cbsn) / 4.3.3(3=b.tbn).1 / timp.+3perc. / hp/ pno(cel) / strings
26 minutes

I. As ages come and pass
II. As memories become legend
III. As legend fades to myth
IV. As myth is long forgotten
V. A new wind rises

Commissioned by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Premiered on January 29, 2026 by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Raiskin conducting,
at Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Canada.

Performance parts available for rental (PDF or hard copy). Send an inquiry through the Contact page.

Full score available for purchase through Just A Theory Press.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the First Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Canadian Prairies. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

For 10 years, I have had the incredible fortunate to serve as composer-in-residence of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The rarity of this opportunity for a young composer in the 21st century cannot be overstated. This position has afforded me an incredible venue in which to hone my craft over an extended period of time, in the process building a formidable repertoire of large-scale musical works.

It seemed most fitting that my last major piece for the WSO would be a symphony, a genre that represents one of humanity’s great artistic achievements. In this one, there are no soloists, twists, or special effects: just pure orchestral music performed by a village’s worth of dedicated musicians.

My Symphony No. 3: Beyond Horizon pulls together themes and ideas that have been swirling around in my head – and in my sketchbooks – for many years. For me, it represents an entire musical era.

Thematically, it is inspired by Robert Jordan’s literary series from which I appropriated the above epigraph. For those who know it well, you may hear some allusions and some of the spirit of that great story within the dramatic narrative of the music. For those who know it not, the music itself will guide you, and the movement titles can offer a bit of poetic context.

The work is dedicated to my wife Isabella and daughter Gabriella. Thank you to Daniel Raiskin, the musicians of the WSO, the entire organization, and the Winnipeg arts community for this decade-long experience.
 
—HS | www.hstafylakis.com

World & Canadian premiere:
• January 12 & 13, 2018 | Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra | Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor