Burning Embers (2020)

For String Orchestra

Score sample here.

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Burning Embers is a tale of fire; the piece begins soft and slow, much like embers smoldering in the night, and crumpling paper emulates the sound of a small campfire. However, much like fire catches with the wind, a burst of energy breathes life into the flames and the piece quickly grows in intensity. Rapid 6/8 passages bring to mind an image of the flames reaching skyward as the fire becomes even greater in size. It begins to die down, having nearly burnt itself out, but it finds one last bit of fuel to swell again before being extinguished for good, with the sound of crumpling paper returning as the last of the flames fade away.

Burning Embers has several unique elements among grade 3 string orchestra pieces. The idea of using crumpling paper to simulate a fire burning is an easy way for advancing musicians to be introduced to aleatoric (chance) music; with so many musicians crumpling paper in their own way, it creates variation from player to player, as well as from performance to performance.

Musicians also get introduced to more chamber-like playing; first-stand only instructions amongst the paper crumpling help to transition to the full orchestra. These instructions also help to create a lighter texture in (as well as less work to clean) the 6/8 section.