Conquest
| Brolga Music Concert Band Series BMC074 |
Level: 3 | Duration: 3'55" |
Program Notes
After a majestic opening, this piece is propelled forward by a pulsing, rhythmic soundscape. The clarinets present a simple melody which is answered by short fanfare figures played by muted trumpets and then by a counter-melody in the upper winds. Another upwards fanfare in the brass leads to a change in mood. Now the music has a more aggressive, tribal feel, building eventually to an intense exchange between the percussion and winds, culminating in a sustained fff chord from the ensemble.
A reflective quieter section follows utilizing smaller instrument grouping within the band. However, this section begins to slowly building with an accelerating tempo and an increase in dynamics. Once again, a climax is reached with a loud sustained chord from the ensemble. There is a brief moment of repose before the piece takes off with a return to the opening clarinet melody. Now the upper brass answer almost continuously with fanfare figures and the counter-melody is once again heard in the upper winds. For a third and final time the dynamics build and the tempo accelerates to a final unison statement by the whole ensemble.
