Tibetan Love Song and Swing (2002-04)

for Orchestra 14 minutes
(3333/4331/timp/perc[3]/hp/str)

I Tibetan Love Song 4'49"


II Tibetan Swing 8'33"

Program Note

Tibetan Love Song and Swing are originally two separate pieces pcombined here as a suite.

Tibetan Love Song is the first movement late for Sheng's Zodiac Tales (2005-2016).

Tibetan Swing was co-commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic for the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundaton in the Library of Congress , and the Singapore Symphony, for the celebration of the opening of its new concert hall in 2002. (dedicated to the memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky)

Instrumentation: 3 flutes (2nd and 3rd double piccolos), 3 oboes (3rd doubles English horn), three clarinets (2nd doubles Eb clarinet, 3rd doubles b. clarinet), three bassoons (3rd doubles c. bassoon); 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba; timpani, percussions (3 players, [2 congas, high and low; 2 bongos, high and low; small bass drum; large bass drum; triangle; maracas; large tambourine; 4 temple blocks; large tamtam; guiro), harp; and strings.

Tibetan Swing based on a typical Tibetan dance beat, the work tries to evoke both the beauty and savageness of a mountain dance, a dance that is most expressive and well-known for its long sleeve-swinging and rhythmic foot-stomps.

—Bright Sheng