Novorossiysk Chimes

Novorossiysk Chimes (The Flame of Eternal Glory) (Opus 111b) was written by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1960 for the war memorial in the city of Novorossiysk. The piece consists a large part of material Shostakovich had originally written in 1943 as an entry in a contest to compose a new national anthem for the U.S.S.R..

Novorossiysk Chimes has been playing nonstop at Heroes Square in Novorossiysk since its opening on September 27, 1960. The song's opening phrases have also been used as introductory music for Moscow Radio's late-night news program CKACWH.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for two flutes and piccolo, two oboes and cor anglais, three clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, one tuba, timpani, one percussionist, celesta, and strings, one euphonium. When played in a concert band, tubas, marimbas, vibraphones, saxophones (replacing the strings alongside the clarinets, flutes, horns and tubas), gongs (tam-tams) and even clash cymbals, bass drums and snare drums are added.