Spring River Flowers by Moonlight
Category: Vocal
Program Notes
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its China Tour and Lunar New Year concerts, Spring River Flowers by Moonlight sets an iconic Tang Dynasty poem for soprano, baritone, and orchestra. Zhang Ruoxu’s beloved poem begins with pastoral beauty and evolves into a heartbreaking love story.
Sung in Chinese (with pinyin phonetic in score).
Co-commissioned by The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the China International Culture Association, with additional support from the US-China Cultural Institute, in memory of Shirley Young.
Instrumentation
2 Flutes (both doubling Picc.)
2 Oboes
2 Bb Clarinets
2 Bassoons
4HornsinF
3 Trumpets in C
2 Bb Clarinets
2 Bassoons
4HornsinF
3 Trumpets in C
2 Tenor Trombones
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
2 Percussion
(Glockenspiel, Finger Cymbals, Vibraphone, Very High Triangle, Small Rute, Tuned Gongs, Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum)
Harp Piano / Celesta
Solo Soprano
Timpani
2 Percussion
(Glockenspiel, Finger Cymbals, Vibraphone, Very High Triangle, Small Rute, Tuned Gongs, Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum)
Harp Piano / Celesta
Solo Soprano
Solo Baritone
Strings
Strings