PHOENIX for Orchestra (2000)
(excerpt #1)
The phoenix is a mythical bird that is consumed voluntarily by fire and arises from its own ashes to regain youthful life. The phoenix often symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death. In my piece, PHOENIX represents fiery passion, which is buried inside of everyone’s heart. As a composer, I have tried my best to portray the immortal passion into sound. Like the mythical bird, my music is vivid and ferocious, yet it also portrays tenderness. The musical note, C-sharp, has an important role in my music. For me, the C-sharp symbolizes red color that portrays fire. Furthermore, echoes of descending minor third are heard throughout the piece, especially in the solo trumpet prominently. For me, the sound of descending minor third has a sense of yearning that expresses love. However, when the two minor thirds converge, it becomes a tritone, which expresses tragedy. My music is an ecstatic invocation to the fire that never dies. It is intensely personal and I hope it speaks for itself.
PHOENIX was finished on April 9, 2000 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is commissioned and premiered by Redwood Symphony in commemoration of its Seventeenth Anniversary Season in 2000. The premiere performance was on June 11, 2000 under maestro Eric Kujawsky in Redwood City, California. Subsequently, PHOENIX was selected for the 2001 American Composers Orchestra Reading Session and received the Whitaker Commission from American Composers Orchestra. This music is dedicated to my mentor Leslie Bassett, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music.
- Paul Yeon Lee"... beautiful lyricism blended with dramatic, energetic and rhythmic driving sections."
American Composers Orchestra
Music excerpt courtesy of American Composers Orchestra
