Through a Soldier's eyes - Brass band
SKU:
A$100.00
A$100.00
per item
For Brass Band (A Grade)
By Graham Lloyd
Program/Conductor’s Notes: Through a Soldier’s Eyes initially began as a tribute to Weary Dunlop (famous Australian WWII Army surgeon, ex-POW and hero of thousands of ex-POWs). However, I realised within a short time that I haven’t yet developed my musical skills to the point where I believe I could do justice to this fine Aussie. Instead, I retained the basic ideas I had already sketched and developed them into a depiction of the emotions a soldier might experience when leaving loved ones and preparing for and going into battle.
By Graham Lloyd
Program/Conductor’s Notes: Through a Soldier’s Eyes initially began as a tribute to Weary Dunlop (famous Australian WWII Army surgeon, ex-POW and hero of thousands of ex-POWs). However, I realised within a short time that I haven’t yet developed my musical skills to the point where I believe I could do justice to this fine Aussie. Instead, I retained the basic ideas I had already sketched and developed them into a depiction of the emotions a soldier might experience when leaving loved ones and preparing for and going into battle.
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The work is in two main sections separated by two shorter sections. The first section (to bar 98) is reflective in nature and represents the soldier’s final few days with family and friends before embarkation, knowing what lies ahead and the possibility of not coming home, the unconditional love of family, memories of great times gone by and the final goodbye. Bar 99 onwards depicts the inner turmoil of not wanting to face what lies ahead yet acceptance that it is the duty of every soldier to fight for his country. The euphonium ‘mirroring’ the cornet can be interpreted as an enemy soldier experiencing similar thoughts. Bar 107 is the preparation for battle and the nervous tension that must be experienced by every soldier who has ever been in battle.
Bar 136 features the SOS distress signal which leads into the actual battle beginning with the first dive bomber releasing its ordnance (Bar 146). The bass drum and tam tam simulate explosions. The incessant bass line depicts the relentlessness and futility of war, cornets/troms and xylo-machine gun fire, troms/lower cors/baris-dive bombers, percussion-explosions, debris falling from the skies-horns/cors at Bar 184. Morse code signals appear at Bar 210 and continue in the background through to Bar 287. Fanfares of possible victory begin to feature from Bar 255 in the baritones then through to troms. At Bar 296, the music changes tonality to the major (in keeping with my sometimes naive thinking that good always triumphs over evil!) and the work concludes in the major key-final victory.
Bar 136 features the SOS distress signal which leads into the actual battle beginning with the first dive bomber releasing its ordnance (Bar 146). The bass drum and tam tam simulate explosions. The incessant bass line depicts the relentlessness and futility of war, cornets/troms and xylo-machine gun fire, troms/lower cors/baris-dive bombers, percussion-explosions, debris falling from the skies-horns/cors at Bar 184. Morse code signals appear at Bar 210 and continue in the background through to Bar 287. Fanfares of possible victory begin to feature from Bar 255 in the baritones then through to troms. At Bar 296, the music changes tonality to the major (in keeping with my sometimes naive thinking that good always triumphs over evil!) and the work concludes in the major key-final victory.