SYMPHONY NO.1
A Time For Everything
Sydney International Composers Concerts 2023
CONTEMPORARY ORCHESTRAL MUSIC 2023
Sydney Contemporary Orchestra
Dr Brian Chatpo Koo – Conductor
October 6, 2023
Verbrugghen Hall
Sydney Australia
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to love and a time to hate
a time to kill and a time to heal
a time to mourn and a time to dance
‘A Time for Everything’ Ecclesiastes, 3:1-8
Inspired by these extracts, this symphony was planned in 1989. The first draft was written in 1999 and completed in 2000.
Using the ‘Method of Extension’ this symphony is derived from a five pitches cell: D, Eb, E, F#, and G#, exposing the characteristics intervals repertory of the work as a whole.
This work is a 42-minute single-movement Symphony, divided into six sections:
I. Prelude
II. Voice of Spring – a time to be born and a time to die,
III. Love Song – a time to love and a time to hate
IV. Notices of War Drums – a time to kill and a time to heal
V. Elegy – a time to mourn
VI. A Time to Dance – a time to dance
Based on the Fibonacci sequence (3′ 5′ 8′ 13′ etc.) these sections are divided and work with specified functions: an introduction followed by an exposition of numerous basic ideas and subjects, a development, and a conclusion
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