The Future of Fire is a brief but powerful work. The vibrant scoring creates a feeling of explosive energy from beginning to end with intense bursts from a battery of percussion.

The melodic material is taken from a popular and touching love song from Shannxi province in north-western China, which is coupled with rhythmic motives in both the wind band and chorus. Folk melodies from this region use intervals of a minor seventh these angular leaps are suited to the dynamic spirit of this work. ...