Olympic Fireworks

David Stanhope

General Info

Year: 2001 / 2016
Duration: c. 4:25
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Australian Music Centre
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $85.00 | Score Only (print) - $13.95

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo I-II
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano (optional)
Timpani
Percussion (5 players), including:

Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Olympic Fireworks was given its premiere by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with the composer conducting, at the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. As well as being played during the final fireworks, it was also played during the entrance of the athletes. The wind band version was written at the same time.

Much of the work is based on the composer’s Ceremonial Fanfare No. 1 for brass quintet. Olympic Fireworks is made up of four main sections. The first begins with sparkling sixteenth-note patterns, followed by a rising theme in triplets. The second (announced by the horns) introduces a new triplet theme with rising and falling duplets answering; these themes are developed to some extent before the fourth section repeats much of the opening part, adding a majestic coda.

- Program Note from liner notes for Mark CD Wind Band Masterworks Volume II

Commissioned by Dale Conis for the University of Missouri-Columbia Wind Ensemble, USA

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Sydney Brass
Audio CD: Texas A&M University Symphonic Band (Timothy Rhea, conductor) - 2006

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Austin (Tx.) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) – 27 April 2013
CBDNA Small College Intercollegiate Band (Greensboro, N.C.) (Craig Kirchhoff, conductor) – 23 March 2013 (CBDNA 2013 National Conference, Greensboro, N.C.)
University of Missouri-Columbia Wind Ensemble (Dale Conis, conductor) – November 2000 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Australian Fantasia (2002/2004)
The Bold Benjamin (1997)
Concerto for Band (1990/2016)
Demon, The
Droylsden Wakes
E.G.B.D.S.
Endpiece
Folksongs for Band, Set 1
Folksongs for Band, Set 2 (1984/1991)
Folksongs for Band, Set 3 (1990/2001)
Grand Fanfare (stanhope)
The Little Ripper March (1989/2001)
Olympic Fireworks (2001/2016)
On a Bright Sunlit Morning
Promenade (2003)
Retreat and Pumping Song (1979/1995/2001/2016)
Songs Without Words
Southern Cross Fanfare
Symphony No. 1

Resources

David Stanhope website Accessed 3 August 2021
Perusal score
Stanhope, D. (2001). Olympic Fireworks [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tx.