Palace of Nine Perfections, The

This three-movement work from one of the world's finest composers reflects on ancient Chinese tapestries. A moving and gorgeously expressive work, it will enthrall listeners and challenge all ten players.

Program Notes

Composed in 1999, The Palace of Nine Perfections was commissioned by and gratefully dedicated to the University of Oklahoma Percussion Orchestra, Richard Gipson, conductor. The three movement work is inspired by a spectacular painting on 12 adjacent hanging scrolls by the 17th painter, Yuan Chiang. The three movements depict scenes from this majestic artwork. In the foreground of the paintin one sees the procession of the Emporer K'ang-hsi. The procession consists of advance soldiers on horseback followed by a parade of dignitaries in fine and elaborate robes. The first movement depicts this scene using both stately marching rhythms and rapid, spinning gestures representing the horses in full gallup. In the painting, the palace is nestled among mist-filled valleys. The 2nd movement represents these beautifully mysterious realms. The chords are soft and luxurious; melodies or fragments of melodies appear and disappear in the mist. The fantasy palace itself (home of the Paradises of the Immortals) is a fantastic building-the setting amidst the rocky cliffs, awe-inspiring. The final movement represents the excitement of this vision, the music intense and dramatic

The Palace of Nine Perfections was commissioned by the University of Oklahoma Percussion Orchestra, Dr. Richard C. Gipson, Conductor. It received its premiere performanceon April 11, 2000, by the group at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, Dr. Gipson conducting. It subsequently was performedin its New York City premiere on February 26, 2001 at Merkin Concert Hall by the OU Percussion Orchestra.

About the OU Percussion Press
In 1977 the OU Percussion Orchestra and Ensemble embarked on a project that developed into a national model for the encouragement and development of new music for percussion ensemble. The OU Percussion Ensemble Commissioning Series regularly engages outstanding composers to write works for this medium. The Commissioning Series is responsible for the creation of some of today`s staples in the percussion ensemble repertoire.

In 1983 the University of Oklahoma funded the establishment of the OU Percussion Press, a non-profit extension of the percussion area. Through the Percussion Press, the commissioning series compositions plus other works expressly written for the OU Percussion Orchestra and Ensembles have been made available for purchase and performance by the world`s leading percussion ensembles. The Percussion Press` catalog numbers more than 50 works, all published in a non-profit venture as a service to the profession.

Grade Level: 5
Copyright: 2001
Number of Players: 10
Duration: 30:00:00
Publisher: OU Percussion Press
Category: Percussion

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Percussion 1 (glockenspiel, chimes, crotales, xylophone)
Percussion 2 (vibraphone)
Percussion 3 (vibraphone)
Percussion 4 (4-octave marimba)
Percussion 5 (4.3-octave marimba)
Percussion 6 (4.3-octave marimba)
Percussion 7 (5-octave marimba)
Percussion 8 (4 timpani)
Percussion 9 (temple blocks, bell tree, 4 suspended cymbals, gong)
Percussion 10 (snare drum, 4 concert toms, bass drum)