Fanfare Band

Elegy: Echoes of Lives Past

Grade 6 | 6 Mins

Elegy: Echoes of Lives Past is one of a pair of pieces which were commissioned by Koninklijke Fanfare Kempenbloei Achel - Ivan Meylemans, conductor - as part of their programme for the 2022 World Music Contest, held in Kerkrade, The Netherlands. The orchestra emerged victorious winners of the Fanfare Concert Division.

It opens with a sombre chorale for saxophone quintet (optionally played offstage) which is interspersed with expressive solos from flugel horn and baritone. A short brass interlude leads to a second, more optimistic chorale for the full saxophone section, accompanied by harp arpeggios. This is taken up by the brass, underneath florid sax figurations, until a dramatic climax is reached, which is interrupted by an abrupt change of mood recalling the opening flugel horn and baritone solos.

Two possible endings are provided, depending on whether or not the opening sax quintet was played offstage.

This piece can be programmed to be played immediately after its partner piece, Not Before Time, which shares the same chorale material.