Rise of the Firebird
General Info
Year: 2001
Duration: c. 2:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C L Barnhouse
Cost: Score & Parts - $60.00 | Score Only - $7.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V (8-11 players), including:
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Field Drum
- Glockenspiel
- Gong (Tam-tam)
- Sleigh Bells
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Triangle
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Rise of the Firebird, a fanfare for winds and percussion, was commissioned by the Lakota West High School Symphonic Winds (West Chester, Ohio) and its director, Greg Snyder, for the 2000 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
The Phoenix, or Firebird, is a mythological creature able to consume itself by fire, bursting forth in flames only to rise again from the ashes stronger and more powerful than before. This fabled bird is a symbol of hope, triumph and immortality and is the mascot of Lakota West High School. Webster's Dictionary also defines a Phoenix as a marvelous person or thing. Hence, this piece is dedicated to Herbert Spencer, a tremendous teacher and musician who was Greg Snyder's horn professor and mentor at Bowling Green State University. He was a shining inspiration to everyone that knew him and will be greatly missed.
- Program Note by composer
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Washington Winds (Edward Petersen, conductor)
- Audio CD: Lakota West Symphonic Winds (Gregory Snyder, conductor) – 2000
- Audio CD: Washington Winds (Edward Petersen, conductor)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wisc.) Wind Ensemble (Erik Janners, conductor) - 1 October 2023
- Oneonta (N.Y.) Community Concert Band (Kerry Hogle, conductor) - 30 June 2022
- Durham (N.C.) Community Concert Band (Tom Shaffer, conductor) – 15 June 2019
- Illinois State University (Normal) Symphonic Band (Doug Morin, conductor) – 25 April 2019
- Vassar College and Community Wind Ensemble (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) (James Osborn, conductor) – 11 November 2018
- Danville (Calif.) Community Band (Robert Calonico, conductor) – 10 June 2017
- Bangor (Maine) Band (Curvin Farmham, conductor)– 30 April 2017
- Reedley (Calif.) High School Symphonic Band (Daniel Paulson, conductor) - 11 March 2016 (2016 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
- Lakota West Symphonic Winds (West Chester, Ohio) (Gregory Snyder, conductor) – 21 December 2000 (2000 Midwest Clinic)
Works for Winds by This Composer
- And the Earth Trembled: See Symphony No. 1, "New Day Rising"
- Casey at the Bat (1996?)
- Celebration Fanfare (2007)
- Celebration Fanfare (arr. Romeyn) (2007/2019)
- Defying Gravity (2004)
- Fate of the Gods (2001)
- Fate of the Gods (arr. Conaway) (2001/2009)
- Goddess of Fire (2006)
- Heaven's Light (2004)
- Heaven's Light (arr. Romeyn) (2004/2018)
- Hopetown Holiday
- In the Temple of Zion (1997)
- Into the Raging River (1999)
- Main Street Celebration
- Merry Christmas, Everyone! (2007)
- Mt Diablo: A Symphonic Portrait
- New Day Rising: See Symphony No. 1, "New Day Rising"
- Pilatus: Mountain of Dragons (2002)
- Pilatus: Mountain of Dragons (arr. Conaway) (2002/2012)
- Portrait of Freedom (2002)
- Rise of the Firebird (2006)
- River of Life (1995)
- Sedona (2000)
- Sedona (arr. Romeyn) (2000/2017)
- Sun Valley Flourish (arr. Shaffer) (2008/2020)
- Swans Island Sojourn
- Symphony No. 1, "New Day Rising" (2007)
- Towards a New Horizon
- Where Eagles Soar (2003)
- The Witch and the Saint (2005)
- The Witch and the Saint (arr. Conaway) (2004/2010)
Resources
- Reineke, S. (2001). Rise of the Firebird [score]. C.L. Barnhouse: Oskaloosa, Iowa.