Written by Theodore Presser Company

Born 1953

Instrumentation
two Flutes, two Oboes, two Clarinets, two Bassoons, four Horns, two Trumpets, three Trombones, Timpani, three Percussion, Harp, two Violins, Viola, Violoncello, Contrabass

Work Composed
1994

World Premiere
January 28, 1995 by Bay Area Women’s Philharmonic

Duration
8 minutes

NOTES

For celebrating the Chinese lunar New Year or mid-autumn festival, Zhuang minority people in Southern China often gather in the field and sign mountain songs in solo, choir or antiphonal forms. In the antiphonal singing, distinct groups or individuals make up the texts in a style of antithetical couplets, competing with one another. It is this vivid scene which has inspired the composer to write music for keeping spirits high and hope alive.