Future of Fire, The

Zhou Long

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Subtitle: For Wind Band and Mixed (or Upper Voice) Chorus

General Info

Year: 2001 / 2009 / 2018
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Choir and orchestra
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - Rental | Score Only (print) - $27.95

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
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-III
Tuba
String Bass
Harpsichord
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV

(percussion detail desired)

Cello

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Future of Fire is a brief but powerful work for SATB or upper voices, and orchestra or wind band. The vibrant scoring creates a feeling of explosive energy from beginning to end with intense bursts from a battery of percussion. The melodic material is taken from a popular and touching love song from Shannxi province in northwestern China, which is coupled with rhythmic motives in both the orchestra/wind band and chorus. Folk melodies from this region use intervals of a minor seventh these angular leaps are suited to the dynamic spirit of this work. The chorus sings a vocalise based on repeated syllables that are found in Chinese folk songs, as well as many folk songs from around the world.

- Program Note from publisher

During China's Cultural Revolution, Zhou Long was deployed to a rural state farm in northeast China. Every spring he watched farmers set fire to the dead grass across the plains in order to make the land ready for planting. This experience inspired him to compose the original version of The Future of Fire for orchestra and children's chorus. In 2008-09 he created a wind version of the piece for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony, Steven Davis, conductor.

- Program Note from The NEW Winds of Change

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Texas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Sarah McKoin, conductor - 2013

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

State University of New York, Potsdam, Crane Wind Ensemble (Brian K. Doyle, conductor) – 23 October 2019
University of Texas (Austin) Wind Symphony (Scott Hanna, conductor) – 27 September 2019
Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) Wind Ensemble (Joseph Missal, conductor) – 31 March 2019
University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory Wind Symphony (Steven D. Davis, conductor) – 27 March 2009 (CBDNA 2009 National Conference, Austin, Tx.) *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Concerto for Wind Symphony (2017)
The Future of Fire (2001/2018)

Resources

Battisti, Frank. The NEW Winds of Change. Meredith Music Publications, 2018, pp. 303.