"Ancient City" by Erik Morales | Brass Ensemble | Full Score Demo

"Ancient City" by Erik Morales
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Brass Ensemble - 4 Trumpets, 3 French Horns, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone & Tuba.
“Ancient City” is a work of four uninterrupted movements. The piece is intended to be a musical portrait of Breisach, an ancient city in southwestern Germany. Breisach is located just off the coast of the Rhine river and the border of France. The first movement “The River” starts gently and is meant to give the listener a feeling of flowing water. The river motif is presented by a Tuba solo in the upper most register in the first six measures. Imagine a boat drifting peacefully at first. As the boat gets closer a city begins to appear in the distance. As the boat nears the city the music becomes more intense. This motif will appear several times in the piece and signifies the bond between the city and the river.
Breisach has a rich and deep history. The old city has seen much diversity in its roughly 1,650 year existence. The second movement “The City on the Hill” is characterized by a steady, march-like pulse that signifies the passing of time. In this context the city remains strong in the face of world wars, epidemics and devastating fires. It's also another way of relating how “time marches on” in musical terms.
The third movement “Zest for Life” is a bright and cheerful portrayal of the vibrant daily life in the city. The music plays out like a conversation between friends. It also tests the virtuosity of the ensemble with brilliant multi-tonguing passages in every instrument. Special thanks goes to Wolfgang Bauer for suggesting the idea for the addition of this movement.
Perhaps the most striking landmark in Breisach is the St. Stephan Cathedral. This cathedral resides in the highest part of the hill and towers over the surrounding city. The final movement “The Cathedral” is based on a melody by Hans Peter Reiner called “Lied zu Breisachs Stadtpatronen” or “Song to Breisach's City Patrons” who were brothers named Gervasius and Protasius. They became martyrs for their religious beliefs circa 60AD and their remains were enshrined in the St. Stephan Cathedral in 1164AD. The original melody has been highly modified but maintains a stately homage to this wonderful landmark.
Finally, the piece ends as it began. This time the French Horn plays the river motif juxtaposed over the Tuba which is playing a fragment of the “Lied...” in the high register of the instrument. The entire piece slows and fades to silence. The final chord voicing was designed to give a feeling of confidence, as to say the city has been here for many years and will remain for many, many more.
ISMN #979-0-800118-41-8