Firedance (Woolfenden)
General Info
Year: 2000 / 2003
Duration: c. 9:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Ariel Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $140.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
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 I-II
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Glockenspiel
- Side Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tom-Tom
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Firedance was commissioned by Warwick Castle for one of its celebrated annual fireworks concerts at the Warwick and Leamington Festival. The first performance was given by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins on July 1st 2000. Keith Allen, musical director of Birmingham Symphonic Winds, heard the piece at Warwick Castle, and commissioned a new arrangement for BSW’s 10th anniversary concert on 16th November 2002 at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham, when it was conducted by the composer.
Firedance starts with jagged rhythms in a minor tonality, and apart from a final accelerando, keeps the same pulse for its near ten-minute span, becoming gradually more celebratory, major-key and melodic.
This new version for concert band is dedicated to all members of Birmingham Symphonic Winds with great affection.
- Program Note by composer
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Birmingham Symphonic Winds (Keith Allen, conductor)
- Audio CD: Birmingham Symphonic Winds (Guy Woolfenden, conductor) – 2003
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Birmingham (Eng.) Symphonic Winds (Guy Woolfenden, conductor) – 18 December 2003 (2003 Midwest Clinic)
Works for Winds by this Composer
- Birthday Treat
- Bohemian Dances
- Celebration
- Claremont Canzona
- Curtain Call
- Deo Gracias (1986)
- Divertimento for Band
- Firedance (2000/2002)
- French Impressions (1998)
- Gallimaufry
- Illyrian Dances (1986)
- Irish Reel (as arranger) (1936/2000)
- Mockbeggar Variations
- Serenade for Sophia (2001)
- SPQR (1988)
- Suite Française (1991)
Resources
- Woolfenden, G. (2002). Firedance [score]. Ariel Music: Banbury.