Length: 3 minutes, 40 seconds
Close your eyes and imagine: You are standing on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. The sun rises slowly on the new day as the waves clash against the rocks far below. And then you see them - a line of dragons, grand and menacing, stands near the cliff's edge. Near each dragon is a figure dressed in armor. At a signal, each one mounts their dragon and grabs the reins.
Suddenly, the dragons move to the edge of the cliff and leap over, hurtling toward the rocks below. Before reaching the bottom, the dragons spread their wings and begin to glide just above the water. Slowly, dragons and riders climb higher and higher into the sky. Joyfully, they begin to wheel and turn, spin and loop as they fly freely past the clouds.
Then we see why they fly - an enemy approaches. In an instant the dragons and riders form up and attack. The fighting grows ever more desperate. Then, as abruptly as it began, the fighting ends as the enemy withdraws.
Soon they are returning home, again enjoying the freedom and exuberance of soaring through the air toward home and loved ones.
This piece was commissioned for the Siren High School and Middle School bands by their director Bryn Riley. It incorporates the use of their mascot (the dragons) and weaves their school fight song into a dramatic battle scene.
It is written with parts of varying levels of difficulty so that both middle school and high school players can perform together.
Length: 3 minutes, 40 seconds
Close your eyes and imagine: You are standing on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. The sun rises slowly on the new day as the waves clash against the rocks far below. And then you see them - a line of dragons, grand and menacing, stands near the cliff's edge. Near each dragon is a figure dressed in armor. At a signal, each one mounts their dragon and grabs the reins.
Suddenly, the dragons move to the edge of the cliff and leap over, hurtling toward the rocks below. Before reaching the bottom, the dragons spread their wings and begin to glide just above the water. Slowly, dragons and riders climb higher and higher into the sky. Joyfully, they begin to wheel and turn, spin and loop as they fly freely past the clouds.
Then we see why they fly - an enemy approaches. In an instant the dragons and riders form up and attack. The fighting grows ever more desperate. Then, as abruptly as it began, the fighting ends as the enemy withdraws.
Soon they are returning home, again enjoying the freedom and exuberance of soaring through the air toward home and loved ones.
This piece was commissioned for the Siren High School and Middle School bands by their director Bryn Riley. It incorporates the use of their mascot (the dragons) and weaves their school fight song into a dramatic battle scene.
It is written with parts of varying levels of difficulty so that both middle school and high school players can perform together.
