BENJAMIN DEAN TAYLOR, composer
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Chinese Fire Drill

Picture

Concert Band
Grade 4
8 minutes

Commissioned by the Colorado Mesa University Wind Symphony
Calvin Hofer, conductor


As a teenager, I was a willing participant to many “Chinese fire drills.” Interesting enough, in my experience they usually occurred on the way to or from marching band rehearsal. For those who may not know, a “Chinese fire drill” is kind of like a game of vehicular musical chairs. A car load of people (usually teenagers) come to a stop at a red light. Everyone frantically gets out and runs around the vehicle (usually while laughing and/or screaming hysterically) and then jumps back in the car. These are wildly fun and generally seen as harmless, playful pranks. While composing this work, I often asked myself, “What would a Chinese fire drill sound like if it were a piece of music?” What you'll hear is my best answer! This composition, Chinese Fire Drill attempts to portray the zany, whimsical, and chaotic nature of a “Chinese fire drill.” I didn't figure I could literally have all the performers jump up and run around and switch seats onstage. However, I have tried to capture the adrenaline and excitement of the event by incorporating unusual extended techniques, a few unusual instruments, and even some slightly theatrical elements. A lighthearted humor pervades much of this work and smiling and laughing during the performance is not only admissible but encouraged! It is my hope that this composition will help all of us connect with the energy and spontaneity of our inner youth.

Colorado Mesa University Wind Symphony, Calvin Hofer, conductor

PERUSAL SCORE
chinesefiredrillv37_taylor.pdf
File Size: 9553 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Composer explanation of the piece (live recording from the premiere)


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  • Home
  • Biography
  • Works
    • Orchestra >
      • Flex Works
      • Snitchin' in the Kitchen (grade 3 with audio track)
      • Electric Breakdance (string orchestra)
      • Aurum Tetra (Saxophone Quartet Concerto)
      • Aurum Tetra (string quartet concerto)
      • Worlds Without End
      • Dizzy Overture
      • Mile-High City (string orchestra)
      • Leaving White
      • Leap (chamber orchestra)
      • Drifting Indigo
    • Wind band >
      • Flex Works
      • Grade 1 Concert Band
      • Grade 2 Concert Band
      • Grade 3 Concert Band
      • Grade 4 Concert Band
      • Grade 5 Concert Band
      • Concertos
      • Band + Audio Track
      • Band + Video
      • Other
    • Jazz Big Band >
      • Player One Press Start (jazz)
      • Baby Jack's Blues
      • Can I See Your Socks
      • Chocolate Covered Cherries
      • Concerto por Trombonito
      • Garapan
      • High Road
      • No Improv Monday
      • The Greasy Toaster
      • White Cliffs of Dover (arr.)
    • Choir >
      • Little Lamb (SATB choir)
      • Eternity's Heirs
    • Saxophone(s) >
      • Aurum Tetra (Sax Quartet Concerto)
      • Get More Epic!
      • Metal Lizard Shift (solo bari)
      • Digital Goldfish (Sax Quartet)
      • Drum N Bari
      • The Secret Life
      • Shipbreaking
      • To Raise Up
    • Flute >
      • Powder Jam
    • Bass Clarinet >
      • Drum N Bass Clarinet
    • Bassoon >
      • Drum N Bassoon
    • Trumpet >
      • Chunk of Plumbing
      • FLOW (tpt + track)
      • Stop.Rewind.Play. (solo + video)
      • Now You Will ... (solo)
    • Trombone(s) >
      • Funky Bone (trombone choir)
      • Beyond Coincidence (trombone choir)
      • A Call for Courage (trombone choir)
      • Can You Crack It? (solo and tape)
    • Euphonium >
      • Metal Lizard Shift
      • Bitcoin's Bull Run (euph+EA)
      • FLOW (euph + EA)
      • Drum N Euph (euph + EA)
    • Tuba >
      • Party Potatoes (concerto + band, grade 3)
      • Metal Lizard Shift
      • Drum N Tuba
    • Contrabass >
      • First Punch
      • FE26 (contrabass + electronics)
      • Digital Assistant
      • 7 Million Results
    • Percussion >
      • Silounds
      • Standard Literature (ensemble)
      • Unrepeatable Expression (ensemble)
      • Non-REM Sleep
    • Piano >
      • All That Remains (Piano + Electronics)
    • Chamber Works >
      • Panic Later (mixed quartet)
  • Contact
  • Dixieland Band
  • Family
  • Resources
  • Commissions
  • Invoice Payment