CATALOG > BAND  > THE FIRE OF THE LIVING GOD

The Fire of the Living God
The 3rd and final movement of and they gathered on mount Carmel
Finalist, 2016 & 2013 American Prize for Composition
Selected to represent the USA at 2003 World Music Days

A surround-sound, programmatic work based on I Kings 18.  
​8.5 minutes. Grade 5-6

"BLOWS  THE  AUDIENCE  AWAY"
"I have conducted this work on several occasions and it always blows the audience away.  All of Ayers' works are extremely well-crafted by a composer who really knows and respects the concert band."
     — Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, former president, Indiana Bandmasters Association

FULL BRASS INSTRUMENTATION:
6 trPs, 4 hns, 4 trBs, 2 euphs, 2 tubas.
A reduced brass version in available. See below.

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​For Purchase Orders, contact us

Reduced brass version

Please contact us to order the reduced brass version. The prices are the same as above for the full version

Also available for orchestra

from the Windiana  "Ayers Biblical Epics"  Concert
The Windiana Concert Band; Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting

Related Compositions

Windiana presents the Ayers Biblical Epics

The Windiana Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, will present a program on November 17, 2011, of the three large Biblical works by composer Jesse Ayers. The works to be performed are AND THEY GATHERED ON MOUNT CARMEL, JERICHO, and RAHAB.  Mezzo-soprano Beth Ray Westlund will sing the role of Rahab. The concert will be at the Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Ayers' Fire of the Living God chosen to represent USA

Jesse Ayers is one of six American composers whose music has been selected by the International Society for Contemporary Music to represent the United States at the prestigious World Music Days 2003 festival.  His work, THE FIRE OF THE LVING GOD, was selected by an international jury of distinguished composers. This is the second time Ayers has been honored by the ISCM. In 1992, his THE DANCING KING for solo tuba and pre-recorded accompaniment was performed in Warsaw, Poland, at World Music Days 1992.

Whistling tubes

This piece uses several extra "performers" surrounding the audience twirling whistling tubes.  These performers can be guests such as local students, board members, or dignitaries.

The tubes are available from toy stores and online retailers like Amazon.  A Google search for "whistling tubes" should locate them.

Ensembles that have performed this work
Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra
Windiana Concert Band
Univ of Rhode Island Symph. Wind Ensemble
Castelo de Paiva Music Acad. Wind Orchestra
Rossview Symphonic Band
Concordia Wind Orchestra
Malone University Symphonic Band
Valparaiso Univ Chamber Concert Band
California State Univ-Bakersfield Band
Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra
Ohio Private Colleges Honors Band
Heidelberg College Symphonic Band
Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony
Virginia Intercollegiate Honors Band
University of Kentucky Wind Ensemble

Past performances of  Fire of the Living God
December 3, 2011, Bel Air, MD
November 17, 2012, Valparaiso, IN
March 6, 2011, Kingston RI
October 17, 2010, Castelo de Paiva, Portugal
May 14, 2010, Clarksville TN
October 31, 2009, Irvine CA
October 18, 2009, Austin, TX
October 16, 2009, Houston, TX
April 15, 2004, Canton OH
March 11, 2004, Thousand Oaks CA
March 10, 2004, Livermore CA
March 9, 2004, Paso Robles CA
March 8, 2004, Palm Desert CA
March 7, 2004, Orange CA
March 6, 2004, Orange CA
March 5, 2004, Las Vegas NV
March 4, 2004, San Diego CA
March 3, 2004, Valparaiso IN
February 24, 2004, Valparaiso IN.
November 15, 2003, Bakersfield, CA
October 2003, Valparaiso, IN
September 2003, Ljubljana, Slovenia
January 20, 2002, Mount Vernon, OH
April 28, 2001, Tiffin, OH
March 17, 2000, Chicago, IL
March 16, 2000, Canton, OH
March 15, 2000, Archbold, OH
March 14, 2000, Windsor, Ontario
March 13, 2000, Lockport, NY
March 12, 2000, San Francisco
March 12, 2000, Severance Hall, Cleveland
March 11, 2000, Paso Robles, CA
March 9, 2000, Long Beach, CA
March 7, 2000, Escondido, CA
March 6, 2000, Anaheim, CA
March 5, 2000, Lake Forest, CA
March 4, 2000, Orange, CA.
October 15, 1999, Valparaiso, IN
February 8-10, 1996, Blacksburg, VA
April 21,1995, Lexington, KY