The title of this piece recalls the famous Yosemite Firefall, a great American tradition that occurred in Yosemite National Park from 1880-1968. Each evening, workers would use ten wheelbarrow loads of red fir bark to build a roaring bonfire at the very edge of Glacier Point. As eager onlookers gathered below, the fire was allowed to burn completely down until it consisted of only red glowing embers. Finally at 9:00 PM, a voice from the base of the cliff would call out, "Let the fire fall!" The fire was then pushed off the side of the cliff, creating a spectacular glowing stream of sparks and fire as it plunged down the entire side of the mountain. |
