Novorossiysk Chimes

Novorossiysk Chimes (also known as The Flame of Eternal Glory or The Fire of Eternal Glory), Op. 111b, was written by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1960 for the war memorial in the city of Novorossiysk. The piece consists, mainly, 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 euphonium, one tuba, timpani, one percussionist, celesta, and strings. When played in a concert band, additional tubas and euphoniums, baritone horns, marimbas, glockenspiels, vibraphones, saxophones (replacing the strings alongside the clarinets, oboes, cors anglais, bassoons, flutes, horns and tubas), gongs (tam-tams) and even clash cymbals, bass drum, snare drums and tubular bells are added.