Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888 – 1957) is a historical figure best known for his polar expeditions to both terrestrial polar extremes. This glorious composition celebrates Admiral Byrd’s pioneering flight over the South Pole in 1929. He and his crew spent several months in Antarctica during the cold dark winter in preparation for the flight. On November 28, he and a crew of three others started the historic flight, and cleared the polar coordinates in the early morning hours of the 29^th (depending on which of the 24 time zones one would calculate the time).

This composition underscores a short video of this expedition, with clips taken from the actual footage. The goal in composing this work was to perform it at McMurdo Station in Antarctica during the holiday season of 2025-26, to include the commemoration of this flight as well as to celebrate Antarctica Day on 1 Dec, and to provide holiday morale to the brave scientists and other workers on the frozen continent.

Musically, take note of the many coordinated gestures to the silent film. Beyond the overall seafaring feel that illustrates the initial journey to Antarctica, there are moments of excitement, chilling anticipation, the slowing down of the dark winter days, and the triumph of reaching the South Pole in the plane, among many others. The 4 1/2-minute video can be viewed on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV0JLVPBRbI