Concert Band

A Centennial Journey

Grade 5 | 9 Mins

A Centennial Journey was commissioned by Stavanger Musikkorps av 1919, Norway, to celebrate their 100th Anniversary in 2019. They gave the premiere, under conductor Morten E. Hansen, in their Jubilee Concert held in the Stavanger Konserthus on 28th September that year.

The piece opens dramatically with a sweeping melody on horns and saxophones under florid woodwind figuration, which build to a majestic climax. A trio for the trombones calms the mood until the opening melody returns in a gentler guise, eventually building to a busy molto vivo. The woodwind figuration continues over a series of brass trios until the main theme of the work appears on clarinets and euphoniums. This develops to introduce a change of key, featuring a long, hymn-like melody on clarinets and horns. This is taken up by the full band, interrupted by sporadic brass fanfares. The opening of the molto vivo returns and leads to a return of the opening horn melody, building to a thrilling coda based on previous melodic material.