This was the world premiere, 22 March though the score gives May 11th with FSU conducted by Jim Croft.

This work was commissioned by a consortium of five American wind bands. It was sketched intermittently from 1988 but the main composing was done summer 1990. Though large in scale it is simple in shape -- an introduction and allegro with coda.

The introduction is of course the Entrance. The Carousing is the rondo allegro opened up by the entrance; its episodes, variously riotous or plangent, form islands within an overall loosely fugal texture. At the climax the opening is regained, its elements reordered and drastically curtailed. It leads this time into a rough drinking song which expands into a final grandiose apotheosis -- as if the Viking longboats were tunnelling out into stormy Northern seas, then receding into the distance over the horizon.

Entrance: Carousing: Embarcation is dedicated to Malcolm Williamson in the year of his 60th birthday.

Robin Holloway

Entrance; Carousing; Embarcation Op.71

Our composition of the Week is CUR? (Why?) from Finnish composer Jukka-Pekka Lehto (1958).
This work obtained the 1st prize in the 2009 International Composition Competition "Ciutat de Betera", in Spain. 
Cur? is a three movement 20 minutes long work written for symphonic wind orchestra, but also very suitable for the wind ensemble. Beside the standard Wind Orchestra Instrumentation, this Grade 6 challenging work calls for a Contrabass Clarinet, Contrabassoon, Soprano Saxophone, as well as piano.
This live recording is performed by the Finnish Defense Forces’ Guards Band, major Raine Ampuja conducting.

Entrance; Carousing; Embarcation Op.71

Composition of the Week

Recent comments

Tim Reynish

Related tracks