Symphony for Wind Ensemble (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Stephenson, James M.

The symphony is in four movements. The first movement starts a single triangle note, followed by a guitar strum. The movement anxiously attempts to churn into action, only to be stifled repeatedly by the single triangle note. Finally, with the guitar as inspiration, the main theme gets under way, revealing an almost Spanish, or even Eastern European flavor. Ideas and themes get reworked, developed, repeated and augmented throughout the movement, before finally closing out just as it began, but in reverse: this time guitar followed by triangle. The second movement steals from an angular and shrieking motif of the first, but is presented in opposite fashion: with the warm blend of the low brass. Hints of iconic military symbolism are interspersed throughout this movement, as homage to the commissioning ensemble. The main theme is inverted and awarded to a solo trumpet midway before giving way to a brass fanfare, though not done loudly, but here muted, from afar. The low brass return at the end, fading away to nothing as the bell tolls. The third movement is merely a short interlude - a break, in almost Gershwin-like fashion - from the seriousness of the movements that precede and follow. Lastly, the fourth movement is a wild one: with mixed meters and plentiful percussion penned to propel the movement throughout. The movements' themes are all reworkings of material presented earlier. Duration: 25.00