Taifu

String Orchestra – Grade 5

Recording: Vienna Synchron Stage Orchestra - Chris Pilsner, conductor (from the album “Elements”, out now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, and more)

Duration: 5.5 Minutes

“Taifu” is the Japanese word for Typhoon.  It wasn’t until I was halfway through the piece that I realized how much like a storm it sounded.  The ominous music at the beginning leads to an aggressive typhoon of repeated patterns that refuse to lose energy.  Frequent modulations and aggressive subito fortissimos keep the listener from expecting where the piece will go next while a reoccurring melody and motives provide a cohesive foundation for the music.

“Taifu” was composed for the Windsor High School Symphony Orchestra in 2017.