Viet Cuong (b. 1990) is a genuine superstar in the world of contemporary classical music. He has had new works commissioned by a vast list of major performance organizations (his list of awards is just as long), and these works have been performed on six continents. He is known for his eclectic compositions, from chamber to large ensemble pieces, which both harness and upend the traditions of orchestration to great effect. Born in California and raised Georgia, he studied composition at the Peabody Conservatory, the Curtis Institute, and Princeton University. He is currently on the faculty at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Read more about him at his website, Wikipedia, UNLV, Classical Voice, the California Symphony, University of the Pacific, New Music Box, and in his feature in “21 for ’21: Composers and performers who sound like tomorrow” in the Washington Post. You can also follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Cuong wrote Diamond Tide in 2015 to fulfill a commission from Cheryl Floyd and the TMEA Region 18 Middle School Bands. From Cuong’s website (links added by me):

A 2010 article published in Nature Physics details an experiment in which scientists were able to successfully melt a diamond and, for the first time, measure the temperature and pressure necessary to do so. When diamonds are heated to very high temperatures, they don’t melt; they simply turn into graphite, which then melts (and the thought of liquid graphite isn’t nearly as appealing or beautiful as liquid diamond.) Therefore, the addition of extremely high pressure—40 million times the pressure we feel on Earth at sea level—is crucial to melt a diamond.

The extreme temperature and pressure used in this experiment are found [on] Neptune and Uranus, and scientists therefore believe that seas of liquid diamond are possible on these two planets. Oceans of diamond may also account for these planets’ peculiar magnetic and geographic poles, which do not line up like they do here on Earth. Lastly, as the scientists were melting the diamonds, they saw floating shards of solid diamond forming in the pools—just like icebergs in our oceans. Imagine: distant planets with oceans of liquid diamond filled with bergs of sparkling solid diamonds drifting in the tide…

These theories are obviously all conjecture, but this alluring imagery provided heaps of inspiration for Diamond Tide, which utilizes the “melting” sounds of metallic water percussion and trombone glissandi throughout.

The work is in two movements, which can be performed separately.

Heartfelt thanks to Cheryl Floyd, Richard Floyd, the TMEA Region 18 bands, and John Mackey for making this piece possible.

Here it is in performance with the Austin Symphonic Band (you can view the score while listening on Issuu):

Cuong also produced a video to demonstrate the unique percussion effects that make the piece sound so otherworldly:

See more about Diamond Tide at J. W. Pepper, and the Wind Repertory Project. One last video: It’s Literally Raining Diamonds on Uranus and Neptune!