Fireworks

SKU: PR.114417700

ISBN 9781491108000. UPC: 680160636259. 9x12 inches.

To mark its 50th anniversary, the Flute Society of Washington commissioned Daniel Dorff to compose a celebratory work for large flute ensemble, to premiere en masse at its 2016 convention. Dorff responded with Fireworks, a 5-minute dazzler scored for 2 piccolos, 4 C flutes, 2 altos, 2 basses, and 1 contrabass. In describing performance of Fireworks, Dorff says: Real pyrotechnic fireworks typically shoot upward quickly and neatly, pop at the top, and then cascade downward slowly in a beautifully out-of-sync descent. Fireworks has many passages musically depicting this crisp upward whoosh exploding into downward sprinkles, often punctuated by a pop at the top.
PERFORMANCE SUGGESTIONS1) FIREWORKS may be performed by any size ensemble ranging from 11 soloists up to a large festival choir. It may be preferable to keep the piccolos at one player per part even when the other parts have multiple players.2) Real pyrotechnic fireworks typically shoot upward quickly and neatly, pop at the top, and then cascade downward slowly in a beautifully out-of-sync descent. FIREWORKS has many passages musically depicting this crisp upward whoosh exploding into downward sprinkles, often punctuated by a pop at the top.3) All dynamics are relative to the whole blend, and some performance situations may require attention and adjustments to keep the balance as notated.4) The “puh” effect with x-shaped noteheads in the Bass and Contrabass parts is a beatbox technique sounding similar to pizzicato. There is naturally-produced flute pitch along with the percussive attack.5) “Like tolling bells” (bar 191 onward) indicates a rapid decay of each note, like church bells.This will help the antiphonal echo beginning in bar 195, and the seating placement may also enhance the antiphonal effect.