Bi-Centurion, Op. 49

Instrumentation: full orchestra (listed below)

Composed: 1975

Duration: 12 min.

Commissioned by: David Zinman, for Rochester Philhramonic Orchestra, assisted by a grant from NEA

Premiered: January 8 and 10, 1976 (Rochester Philhramonic Orchestra - David Zinman, conductor)

Publication Information: White Bear Lake, Minnesota: Regus Pub., 1975 (47 p. score + parts)

Score available from: Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music at Free Library of Philadelphia.

Program Note:

In celebration of our nation's bicentennial, the Bi-Centurion, Op. 49 honors the inherent greatness of our people. The title itself suggests a double play on words: 200 years of remarkable growth and development as a world power. Programmatic in concept, the Bi-Centurion has two principle subjects. The first opens the music and is heard throughout the development. The second, barely hinted at during development of the first subject, in the finale dominates all other contrapuntal subjects.

Programmatic music can be meaningful when the listener involved provides his own image. I like to think in each of us a greatness resides, for every man is his own alter-ego. Music is a reflection of what we are. In this sense also, the Bi-Centurion was written: To herald the quality of greatness in man which is there.


Orchestration:

2 Flutes (Picc.)
1 Alto Flute
3 Oboes (Eng. Hn.)
1 Clarinet
1 Eb Clarinet
1 Bass Clarinet
2 Bassoons
1 Contrabassoon
4 Horns in F
4 Trumpets (C and Bb)
3 Trombones
1 Tuba
Timpani
4 Percussion
Strings