Fireworks

This work was commissioned by BL!NDMAN in 2012 for their programme Whiplash. It became a celebration of sounds shot through space like fireworks. Fire is a primal element that represents energy, radiance and power. The work consists of three parts and an epilogue. The first part (EXPLOSIONS) reflects the power of large explosions and bursts of sound. Rising melodic figures in the saxophones are accompanied by intense percussion. The second part (IN THE MOOD) is a more introspective part with references to jazz. It mainly uses a vertical, harmonic sound. The saxophone and percussion quartet play the same rhythmic patterns in chords, which gradually take on a life of their own for each instrument. The third part (DANCE!) refers to different rhythms and musical styles from world music. It is a virtuoso part that pushes the technical limits to the extreme. At the end, there is an epilogue (REFLECTION) in which all the energy is gradually channelled and this rousing composition slowly slows down and fades away. The electronics were realised in collaboration with Jorrit Tamminga.