Triumph of Humanity (2023) (人和篇)

Program Note

Triumph of Humanity (人和篇) is co-commissioned by Palm Beach Freedom Institute Inc., the Common Sense Society, and the Palm Beach Symphony, premiered on November 19, 2023, with Gerard Schwarz conducting the Palm Beach Symphony. The work is dedicated to Gerard Schwarz.

The orchestration calls for three flutes (third doubles piccolo), three oboes (third doubles English horn), three clarinets in Bb (third doubles bass clarinet), three bassoons (third doubles contrabassoon), four French horns in F, three trumpets in C, two tenor trombones, one bass trombone, one tuba, timpani, 3 percussionists (playing high side-drum, slap-stick, Peking Opera cymbals [ca. 8” in diameter], low bass-drum, large tamtam, chimes, high and low wood-blocks, small suspended cymbal, guiro, and glockenspiel), harp and strings.

The inspiration of the composition came from living through the three-year period 2020-2022: Covid 19, war in Europe, and political tensions within the US and between nations. I witnessed pretention, anger, and grief. At the same time, I also experienced true generosity and compassion, which made me believe, more than ever, that the humanity will triumph regardless.

—Bright Sheng

—盛宗亮