Firestorm

Stephen Bulla

General Info

Year: 1992
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: De Haske
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - €200.93 | Score Only (print) - €39.72

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet/Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Castanets
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Field Drum (2)
Finger Cymbals
Gong
Orchestra Bells
Shaker
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Temple Blocks
Triangle
Vibraphone
Whip
Wind Chimes
Wood block
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Firestorm was composed by Stephen Bulla for the United States Army Band and had its first performance on 27th April 1991. Composed as a single-movement rhapsody, the work is framed by the riveting sounds of airborne bombing raids. The interior of the work is cast in flashback sequences. The first feature is a frenetic melody that captures the free-spirited antics of a Baghdad market scene. Following is a poignant soliloquy depicting the calm, unspoiled beauty of the Iraqi countryside before the siege.

Stephen Bulla noted that his sense of inner creativity surrounding this project was directly related to the emotional impact of the war upon him.

The final page of his score bears the following poignant inscription: "Completed February 26 1991, Kuwait liberated today."

- Program Note from score

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: United States Continental Army Band (Timothy J. Holtan, conductor) - 2009

State Ratings

Alabama: Class AA
Georgia: VI
Iowa: I
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
South Carolina: VI
Tennessee: VI
Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Banda Municipal de Manizales (Colombia) - 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adirondack Festival Overture (2014)
Andante con Moto (as arranger) (1816/2003)
Bells of Christmas (1999)
Blue Mountain Saga (1995)
Bond, James Bond (as arranger)
Cartoon Capers (as arranger) (2000)
Celestial Suite (1989)
Christmas Calypso (1997)
Cole Porter Songbook (as arranger)
Concerto in F for Piano and Wind Band (as transcriber) (1925/2009)
Declaration for Trumpet
Ellington! (as arranger) (2019)
Escapades (as transcriber) (2002/2012)
Euphonium Fantasia
Excerpts from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (as arranger) (1978/2009)
Fascinating Rhythm (as arranger) (1924)
Firestorm (1992)
Heather Ridge Sketches (2000)
The Imperial March (as arranger) (1980/2008)
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (as transcriber) (1863/)
Irish Lullaby, An
Irish Songs, Set No 1 (as arranger)
Irish Songs, Set No 2 (as arranger) (2004)
Legend of Knife River (1997)
Legends of Jazz (as arranger) (2012)
Library of Congress March, The (as arranger)
Mambo Greats (as arranger) (2013)
Mancini! (as arranger) (2000?)
March Creole (1995)
North Bridge Portrait (2001)
Of Ancient Dances (2015)
Pride of a People (as arranger)
Rhapsody for Flute (1996)
Rhapsody for Hanukkah (1994)
Russian Carol Variations (1999)
The Schumann Suite (as arranger) (1997)
Selections from "Into the Woods" (as arranger)
Selections from "The Great Race" (as arranger)
Selections from ''Sweeney Todd'' (as arranger) (1979/2009)
Shipston Prelude (2000)
Sinatra! (as arranger) (2011)
Slavonic Fantasy (as arranger)
Sondheim! (as arranger) (2021)
Stephen Foster Songbook (as arranger) (1999)
Symphonette (2003)
Symphonic Highlights from "Frozen" (as arranger) (2013)
Tiger Rag (as adapter)
Tribute to Louis Armstrong (as arranger)
Trilogy Americana (2002)
Uncommon Valor (1995)
Wade in the Water (as arranger) (2001)
Winterfest (as arranger) (2002)
Yankee Doodle (as arranger) (1845/)
Zigeunerweisen (as arranger) (1878/)

Resources

Bulla, S. (1992). Firestorm [score]. De Haske Music: Heerenveen, Holland.
Perusal score