The Light Fantastic
The Light Fantastic was commissioned by Leeds Metropolitan University to use during their promotional presentations whilst on a joint tour of China with the Northern Ballet Orchestra during the 2008 Olympic Games. The music aims to encapsulate the grandeur and spirit of the Olympic Games whilst also paying homage to the fantastic city of Beijing - host to the 2008 Olympic Games.
The composer describes the music as using three thematic devices: "The first - a quick triplet rhythmic figure in 12/8 time which builds to syncopated crotchets followed by flourishing semi-quavers. This then moves to the second thematic device - a straight 4/4 time featuring the quasi-gamelan percussion section and back row cornets as they play moving quavers using consecutive fourths and fifths, an interval that is a trademark of Chinese music. The third thematic device is a long flowing melody that starts in the Euphoniums and then gets passed around the soloists. The three devices start as individual motifs and then blend together to build to a huge climax."