Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 3 Clarinets in Bb, 1 Bass Clarinet in Bb, 1 Contrabass Clarinet in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 2 Alto Saxophones, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Baritone Saxophone, 3 Trumpets in C, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trombones, 1 Euphonium, 1 Tuba, String Bass, Timpani, Mallet Percussion (2 players), Percussion (3 players)

Duration: 5'

 

Program Note:

Rhapsody for Wind Ensemble (2022) is a dynamic and colorful piece that uses a non-esoteric, yet modern compositional language. The objective of this piece is to immerse listeners in a sound-world full of contrasting emotions, such as jubilation, heroism, sorrow, mystery and playfulness, and create vivid imageries, which manifest themselves in different mini-episodes in the course of a 5-minute composition. This exciting musical journey, which can be viewed as an attempt at seeking a utopic escape from harsh reality, has a whole palette of references to various genres and styles, such as Hollywood music, neo-Romanticism, spectral harmony, and folk dance. Everything in this seemingly eclectic piece, with its ever-changing perspectives - from quiet, subtle melodies to agglomerated bursts of power chords - derives from its opening theme, which undergoes constant changes through melodic, rhythmic, textural, and atmospheric transformations. The mosaic structure of the piece with its rather spontaneous flow from one episode to another creates a sense of unpredictability and gives space for imagination. 

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-- Meilina Tsui

2022