Songs of the Warrior
This Brass Quintet won the 1996 Fine Arts Festival Music Award at Illinois State University , an international competition. Songs of the Warrior , a Brass Quintet in three movements, utilizes thematic material derived from a twelve-tone row, presented in three contrasting styles. While the piece stands on its own as absolute music following traditional formal structures, the titles of each movement do suggest a setting befitting the mood or atmosphere evoked by the music. I. The Cannon’s Mouth Following a slightly modified version of the classical sonata allegro form, this movement presents the thematic material in a freely atonal setting, Much use is made of variations of ancient two note war-horn calls, which would command soldiers to advance into direct combat with an enemy. II. Amidst the Fallen The second movement evokes images of the aftermath of battle and the horrors left on the field of war. Dynamic and rhythmic elements in the music produce a classic arch form.