Tibetan Swing was co-commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, for the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress, and the Singapore Symphony, for the celebration of the opening of its new concert hall in 2002.
Instrumentation: 3 flutes (2nd and 3rd double piccolos), 3 oboes (3rd doubles English horn), three clarinets (2nd doubles Eb clarinet, 3rd doubles b. clarinet), three bassoons (3rd doubles c. bassoon); 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba; timpani, percussions (3 players, [2 congas, high and low; 2 bongos, high and low; small bass drum; large bass drum; triangle; maracas; large tambourine; 4 temple blocks; large tamtam; guiro), harp; and strings.
Based on a typical Tibetan dance beat, the work tries to evoke both the beauty and savageness of a mountain dance, a dance that is most expressive and well-known for its long sleeve-swinging and rhythmic foot-stomps.
—Bright Sheng