Wild Dance Of The Golden Snake

The symphonic overture Wild Dance of the Golden Snake was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture for the 2002 Spring Festival Gala and was premiered by the China National Symphony Orchestra at the same year's event. Upon its debut, the work quickly gained popularity among domestic symphonic ensembles. It was later adapted into a version for Chinese traditional instruments. Over the past two decades, both versions of the piece have been frequently performed at major festivals, symphonic concerts, and national orchestra and folk orchestra events in China. The work has also increasingly been included in the concert repertoires of international symphonic orchestras.

The overture is based on the folk melody Dao Ba Ban, which was also used by Nie Er, the composer of the Chinese national anthem, in his composition Wild Dance of the Golden Snake for Chinese traditional instruments. The overture takes inspiration from the "wild" character of the piece, using it as the foundation for its musical development. Through a variety of symphonic techniques, it unfolds in a concise, sonata-like structure, with brass, percussion, strings, and woodwinds brilliantly interacting to create a grand and lively festive atmosphere.