Symphony No 0

Bart Picqueur

Subtitle: Phoenix ex Cinere suo Renascitur

General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 27:48
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Beriato Music, through Music Shop Europe
Cost: Score and Parts - €278.50 | Full Score Only - €35.98

Movements

1. Fanfare for Ra, the Sun God - 4:07
2. At the Source - Song and Dance of the Phoenix - 8:54
3. Death and Rebirth - 8:15
4. Flight to Heliopolis - Ceremony for Ra - 6:32

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute (div.)
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet (div.)
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet（optional）
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium/Baritone
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Organ (or Synthesizer）
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Bongo
Chime
Claves
Conga
Crash Cymbal
Finger Cymbals
Flexatone
Glockenspiel
Hi-hat
Marimba
Ride Cymbal
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Tam-tam
Templeblocks
Tenor Drum
Timbales
Tom-tom
Tubular Bells
Wood Block
Xylophon

Firework

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Symphony No. 0 was commissioned by the Koninklijke Harmonie St. Cecilia from Zele, Belgium, on the occasion of its 175th anniversary. "Phoenix ex cinere suo renascitur" (the Phoenix will rise from its ashes) is the motto of this wind orchestra. The mythical bird also takes pride of place in the orchestra's banner.

The mythology of several continents includes similar stories about a phoenix arising from its ashes. This work by Bart Picqueur is based on the Egyptian and Greek version. In ancient Egypt, the Phoenix occurred in the ritual of Ra, the sun god.

Part 1: Fanfare for Ra, the sun god. After a mysterious introduction, the orchestra bursts out with resounding trumpets and exceptionally virtuoso kettledrums. It is a festive ode to the sun god.

Part 2: At the source - Song and dance of the Phoenix. The Phoenix lives a solitary existence at a source somewhere in Persia. His song and dance are of such a beauty that Ra, the sun god, stops his chariot every day at noon to enjoy the bizarre spectacle. Part 2 opens with an impression of the source, with a modal sound field of clarinets and piano. The song is melodious and sounds slightly oriental. The dance is capricious and virtuoso.

Part 3: Death and rebirth. When the Phoenix has grown old, he arranges his own death. He makes a nest out of incense and other fragrant herbs in the highest tree. When he has settled down in it, the sun sets the nest on fire. The old Phoenix perishes in the flames. A young strong Phoenix is born (reborn) from the ashes.

Part 4: Flight to Heliopolis - ceremony for Ra. The young Phoenix wraps the remains of the nest of its father in an egg of myrrh. As soon as he is strong enough to carry it, he takes it to Heliopolis (the city of light, which still exists near Cairo) where he sacrifices it in the temple of Ra. The work ends with a chorale in honour of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of numerous musical societies. The majestic final chord, however, is not what is seems. It all starts again from the beginning, the circle is complete (just as the number of the symphony).

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio: Orchestre d'Harmonie du Valais (Etienne Mounir, conductor)
Audio CD: Panda Wind Orchestra (Koji Ishizaka, conductor) - 2015
Audio CD: Symphonic Wind Band Conservatoire Antwerp - 2006

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Orkest Orventus (Oisterwijk, Netherland) (Jacco Nefs, conductor) - 16 July 2017 (World Music Contest 2017)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Resources

Perusal score
Picqueur, B. (2006). Symphony no 0 [score]. Beriato Music: Kontich, Belgium.
"Symphony No. 0." Rakuten. E=Web. Accessed 31 March 2022