When Fireflies Danced - Philip Parker [DIGITAL]

On a warm summer evening around midnight, a lone firefly flits among the trees and is soon joined by dozens of others. Suddenly and magically they coordinate their flashing lights and movements as they dance a veritable ballet. Then, as suddenly as they appeared, in a burst of silent fireworks, the choreography ends and they scatter in all directions. The lone firefly remains and, with a few last flickers of light, disappears into the stillness of the night.

Genre: Solo Flute + Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 9 + 1
Series: N/A
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 9:45

Instrumentation
Solo Piccolo/Flute

Player 1: Bells, Xylophone, 2 Crotales (high A#, B), violin bow
Player 2: Vibraphone 1, Small Metal Wind Chimes, bass bow
Player 3: Vibraphone 2, bass bow
Player 4: Marimba 1 [4.3-octave], 2 Crotales (high Ab, G), violin bow
Player 5: Marimba 2 [4.5-octave]
Player 6: Marimba 3 [5-octave]
Player 7: Celeste (may substitute Synthesizer)
Player 8: Claves, 2 Suspended Cymbals, Mark Tree, Snare Drum, Tom, Temple Blocks, Slapstick, Crotales (low octave + high E, F), violin bow
Player 9: Large Tam-Tam, 2 Suspended Cymbals, Snare Drum, Tom, Triangle, High Woodblock, 2 Crotales (high C#, D), violin bow

The piece was commissioned for and dedicated to Eleanor Duncan Armstrong by her partner in the Armstrong Flute & Percussion Duo, Dan Armstrong.