The Nightingale and the Rose

A Short Ballet (2006)
Inspired by a Short Story by Oscar Wilde

Composer: Bright Sheng
Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon
Duration: 17 minutes
Orchestra: (3333/4331/timp,perc[4]/hp/str)



Read the Story: The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde

Program Note

The Nightingale and the Rose Commissioned by New York City Ballet for whom Bright Sheng was the first Composer-in-Residence from January 2006 to December 2007.

Instrumentation:

1 flute, piccolos 1 and 2;
oboes 1 and 2, English horn;
clarinet 1 in Bb, clarinet 2 in Bb/Eb clarinet, clarinet 3 in Bb/bass clarinet;
bassoons 1 and 2, bassoon 3/contrabassoon;
4 French horns in F, trumpet 1 and 2 in C, trumpet 3 in C/Bb,
2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, tuba;
timapani,
four percussionists (glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone,
crotales, triangle, bell tree, small suspended cymbal,
suspended cymbal with metal chain, large ratchet,
low temple block, wind-gong, large tam-tam, guiro, low bass drum,),
harp and strings.

—Bright Sheng