Sunflower Saga - SMC662 | Musica

James Barnes wrote „Sunflower Saga" for the 20th anniversary of the Kansas Bandmasters Association".

Kansas is also called the „Sunflower State", because the hot climate of the area is ideal for sunflowers and there are huge sunflower fields that characterize the landscape.
„Sunflower Saga" is a joyful overture for band that shines like a bright yellow sunflower field. The melodies and rhythms of the fast beginning remind of the music of a western, e.g. when there is a fair in a western city and cowboys walk through the streets, raising their hats to the beautiful ladies. In the slow and romantic middle part we hear wonderful solo parts of bassoon, horn, oboe, trumpet, clarinet and alto saxophone before „Sunflower Saga" ends with the happy sounds of the first part.