Traveling to Southern France, on the highway to Lyon – l’aoutoroute du soleil – you pass a fortress that dates from the 11th century. It lies high and invulnerable on a rock and is called “La Fortresse Mornas”. “The Old Fortress” begins with strong, medieval sounds that change into a musical picture of the old, small and roundly shaped mountains, the “Chevennes”, that are unique in the world. In the inner courtyard of the fortress they dance an old Provencal dance. The Provence is a sunny and warm region that extends to the Mediterranean Sea. In former times only one musician performed this music, playing the drum with one hand and the flute with the other hand. “The Old Fortress” ends with the medieval sounds from the beginning.
Flexible trio with percussions/keyboard (opt.) | Grade 1,5
Instrumentation:
Conductor (Full Score)
Part 1 C (8va) (Flute, Oboe)
Part 1 C (Trumpet)
Part 1 Bb (Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Clarinet)
Part 1 Bb (8va) (Clarinet Solo, Soprano Saxophone) (optional)
Part 1 Eb (Alto Saxophone)
Part 2 C (8va) (Oboe, Flute)
Part 2 Bb (Clarinet) (optional)
Part 2 Bb (8va) (Tenor Saxophone, Tenorhorn, Euphonium)
Part 2 C (Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon)
Part 2 Eb (Alto Saxophone, Horn)
Part 2 F (Horn)
Part 3 C (Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon, Tuba 1)
Part 3 Bb (Trombone, Baritone, Bass Clarinet)
Part 3 C (8vb) (Tuba 2, Bassoon)
Part 3 Eb (Baritone Saxophone, Tuba)
Mallets (Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Bells, Tambourine)
Timpani (Cymbals)
Percussion (Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Gong)
Keyboard (Piano, Organ)