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Firedance was
commissioned by Warwick Castle for one of its celebrated annual
fireworks concerts at the Warwick and Leamington Festival. The first
performance was given by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Martyn
Brabbins on July 1st 2000.
Keith Allen, musical director of
Birmingham Symphonic Winds, heard the piece at Warwick Castle, and
commissioned a new arrangement for BSW’s 10th anniversary concert on
16th November 2002 at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham, when it was
conducted by the composer.
Firedance starts
with jagged rhythms in a minor tonality and, apart from a final
accelerando, keeps the same pulse for its near ten minute span,
becoming gradually more celebratory, major-key and melodic.
This new version for concert band is
dedicated to all members of Birmingham Symphonic Winds who gave the
first American performance at the Midwest Clinic, Chicago in December
2003.
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