Mar

6

New Release: The Fiery Furnace

Filed Under Kellogg: The Fiery Furnace, Videos, Commissions, Recordings | 3 Comments

'The Fiery Furnace' - Rehearsal in San Diego, CA
Composer Daniel Kellogg’s oratorio The Fiery Furnace, a work written under commission from Soli Deo Gloria, is now available for purchase at www.InstantEncore.com. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO, DOWNLOAD AND ENJOY what the composer describes as “moments of harmonious tenderness, clashing dissonance, and triumphant joy.” This live recording features the San Diego Symphony, tenor Nicholas Phan and baritone Steven Richardson under the direction of Jahja Ling in the 2008 world premiere performance.

Kellogg’s oratorio highlights a dramatic story from the Old Testament book of Daniel. ”There is the wild music that calls people to worship the image of gold, the terrifying music that accompanies the scene of the furnace, and the ecstatic music of praise that ends the story,” writes the composer. Click here to download program notes.

Daniel Kellogg comments on the emotion and spirit of The Fiery Furnace:

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Conductor Jahja Ling recalls his first impressions of Kellogg’s new piece:

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For more info on The Fiery Furnace, including further comments from the composer, click here. For photos, videos and reports on the world premiere, click here.

Apr

21

World Premiere of ‘The Fiery Furnace’

Filed Under Kellogg: The Fiery Furnace, Interviews, Commissions | Leave a Comment

The San Diego Symphony will present the world premiere of Daniel Kellogg’s The Fiery Furnace on April 25, 26 and 27, 2008. Maestro Jahja Ling will lead the orchestra, the San Diego Master Chorale and soloists Nicholas Phan and Steven Richardson in performances of this oratorio based on a story from the Old Testament book of Daniel. Tickets can be purchased through the San Diego Symphony website by clicking here. To read the program notes written by the composer, click here.

In a recent interview with Greg Wheatley of Moody Radio’s Prime Time America, Daniel Kellogg discussed his approach to composition and revealed the inspiration behind The Fiery Furnace:

Prime Time America: Daniel Kellogg interview (part 1)

Prime Time America: Daniel Kellogg / Chandler Branch interview (part 2)

Music director Jahja Ling commented on the upcoming premiere of Kellogg’s new oratorio in an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune that highlighted Daniel Kellogg’s work:

“The oratorio is a wonderful composition. (Kellogg’s) writing for the soloists and chorus shows a great understanding of the expressiveness of the human voice. His orchestra writing is simple but profound.”

Click here to read the complete article.

Jul

30

San Diego Symphony to premiere SDG-commissioned work by Daniel Kellogg

Filed Under Kellogg: The Fiery Furnace, Concerts, Interviews, Commissions | Leave a Comment

Jahja Ling - Music Director, San Diego SymphonyOn April 25, 26 and 27, 2008, the San Diego Symphony will present the premiere performances of a new oratorio by celebrated American composer Daniel Kellogg. Written under commission from Soli Deo Gloria, Kellogg’s new work highlights a dramatic scriptural story from the book of Daniel. The composer recently commented on his approach to the new work:

The story has a wonderful dramatic arch that works well for oratorio style story telling. The Israelites are captive in Babylon. Certain Israelites have been appointed to serve in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. He is constantly trying to get the Israelites to worship his gods or bow to his desires, which go against their beliefs. In this story he builds a giant image of gold, and demands that all the people in the land worship the image when they hear the sound of every kind of music. Three Israelites serving in his courts refuse and he threatens to throw them into the burning fiery furnace. They continue to refuse and they are bound and thrown into the furnace. God saves them, and King Nebuchadnezzar is humbled and calls for all to praise the God of the Israelites.

This story offers many musical possibilities. There is the wild music that calls people to worship the image of gold, the terrifying music that accompanies the scene of the furnace, and the ecstatic music of praise that ends the story. In addition to Daniel 3, I’m using passages from Daniel 9 (Daniel confesses the corporate sins of Israel and asks for God’s mercy), and numerous psalms. These extra passages are fleshing out the thoughts and prayers of the Israelites and the three Jewish advisors who are thrown into the furnace. A tenor will sing the part of one of the priests and a baritone will sing the part of King Nebuchadnezzar. The chorus will echo the thoughts of the vocal soloists as they sing parts of both the Israelites and the people in the land of Babylon.Daniel Kellogg

It is a thrilling opportunity to write a 30-minute piece for chorus and orchestra. Full symphony orchestra is my favorite medium to write for, and the addition of a chorus makes it even better. I have always enjoyed writing pieces that have a large emotional scope and this story is perfect for that. I am eagerly anticipating the premiere next April.

Joining the San Diego Symphony for the premiere performances will be soloists Nicholas Phan and Stephen Richardson and the San Diego Master Chorale, under the direction of the orchestra’s Music Director, Jahja Ling. “This oratorio will have a great impact on the audience who hears it, especially because of its origin in the book of Daniel”, said Ling. “The San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Master Chorale and our soloists are looking forward to this great, momentous event.”

Tickets for the April 2008 performances of The Fiery Furnace will be available for purchase beginning Monday, July 31, 2007. Call the San Diego Symphony ticket office at 619-235-0804 or click here to purchase tickets online.