Concert Band
Opern-Ouvertüre
Operatic Overture / Ouverture d'opéra
Info
Very few composers throughout history have had more of an influence on romantic music and romantic composers than Richard Wagner. Whenever a performance of his music is scheduled, all of the local composers flock to the concert hall to hear it. His Operatic music is legendary, particularly his highly renowned “Ring Cycle”, which has been declared by many Arts and Music critics as “the greatest work of Art of all time”. The Overtures to his many Operas are among the most performed works each year throughout the world.
VALHALLA is an exciting Overture written in the style of Wagner. The piece starts out with a majestic fanfare in the brass and saxophones, quickly joined by the woodwinds. This leads into a Maestoso section with the melody in the Horns and low brass, followed by a lively spinoff of “Ride of the Valkyries”. Next is a beautiful Aria which builds to a powerful climax and soft ending. From there the piece slowly builds into a restatement of the opening strains, and finishes with a grand and traditional stop-time ending.