The Castle on the Hill - Philip Sparke

The Castle on the Hill was commissioned by the Harmonie l'Abeille de Lucens, based in western Switzerland, and premiered by them in their 2025 Spring Concert on April 12th in the Grande Salle in Lucens. The band has a proud history dating back to 1883 and boasts a separate youth band as well as a music school. The march is in traditional form. After a brief introduction the main theme unfolds on the full band. This is followed by a bold theme in the bass, decorated with woodwind flourishes. A bridge passage leads to a second theme on clarinets and saxophones, repeated by the full band. A change of key heralds the trio section featuring a legato melody, again on clarinets and saxophones and taken up in a fresh key by the full band. This leads directly back to a recall of the opening material in a slightly abridged and decorated version, leading to an emphatic close.

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