Andrew Downes - Centenary Firedances

Centenary Firedances

Instrumentation

full symphony orchestra including a large group of percussion instruments together with marimbas, bongos, cowbells, tom-toms and an Irish drum) and two sets of timpani.

Other Information

For full symphony orchestra including a large group of percussion instruments (together with marimbas, bongos, cowbells, tom-toms and an Irish drum) and two sets of timpani.
Commissioned in association with DRAGONFIRE LTD by the City of Birmingham for its Centenary Celebrations 1989.
First performance in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, by the Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan del Mar.
Major performance on June 24th 1989 in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, with grand firework display by Dragonfire Ltd. Subsequent performances of the work at midsummer events at Cannon Hill Park in 1991 and 1992 to audiences of tens of thousands.
Subsequent performers of the work include the Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leon Gee, Northamptonshire Youth Orchestra, Exeter University Symphony Orchestra, Central England Ensemble and Haybridge Community Orchestra.

´.....Then came the premiere of Centenary Firedances by Andrew Downes and what a stunner it proved!
´A fourteen-man percussion section unifies five dances, the sounds of the tom-toms, marimbas, cowbells and the rest all clearly realised.
´As in other examples of this composer´s music, there is the occasional American impression, either of rugged simplicity, or of driving energy.
´The audience loved it, and so did the performers under Jonathan del Mar, and it is wonderful news that this terrific piece is to be recorded.´ BIRMINGHAM POST
A commercial cassette recording of the work was made and all copies were sold out at the first Cannon Hill Park performance! A re-release of this recording is now available on CD   The recording was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 "Listeners´ Choice" on September 22nd 2001.