PROGRAM NOTES

This piece explores the rise and fall of all great empires. Musically, this concept is represented with several different ideas. One involves the ensemble moving as a single powerful unit, representing the strength of unity. Another involves one leader that tries to come forward, but is eventually overtaken by the ensemble. And the final idea puts the upper and lower strings in opposition to each other as each group struggles for prominence.

Composition details

Completed in 2012 and premiered on February 6th, 2013 by the CCM Concert Orchestra at Corbett Auditorium in Cincinnati, OH. The piece was commissioned as part of the University of Cincinnati’s annual composition competition.

Instrumentation

String Orchestra

Duration

~9 minutes