Transcend: I. Pulse

(Starts at 0:07)

"I was extremely delighted to have been invited to compose a new work commemorating the 150th anniversary of the First Transcontinental Railroad’s completion in May 2019. When I learned that 13 American orchestras — located along the route of the Railroad — would join forces together to commission and premiere this new work across the country, I was truly honored, as I knew the significant cultural impact this project would entail.

The first movement, “Pulse,” starts with serene strings that remind me of the expansive desert of Utah and Nevada I visited. The music grows patiently and eventually bursts into a constant pulse of 152 BPM. The odd meters and violent rhythms evoke the tension and suspense of man versus nature." - Zhou Tian

Tempo Map:
0:00 Adagio
2:25 Vivace
4:55 Andante
6:57 Vivace, most clearly established at 7:17