Dynasty

Dynasty takes the form of a Symphonic Poem, a musical form first introduced to a contest audience at the Crystal Palace in 1913 by Percy Fletcher in his work Labour and Love.

Using key passages from the autobiography of Harry Mortimer, On Brass as the source for the narrative, the work opens with a four-note leitmotif (Harry's theme, “as if descending from the heavens”), and the timeline unfolds as follows:

1 - Harry One's destiny decided at birth “I'll make him the best cornet player in England”.

2 - War Why do the nations so furiously rage together? Fred volunteers for military service

3 - Theatre And suddenly “I dashed to the rescue like a hero in the silent movies I was about to get to know so well”

4 – Journey Comfort Ye A new life and new challenges

5 – Together Come unto me “A golden age”

6 – Farewell For behold, darkness “Fred's death surely marked the passing of an era”

7 – Amen The Trumpet shall sound

Listeners familiar with brass band repertoire will recognise a few pertinent quotes within the piece. In my imagination Harry is joined by Fred on cornet and the euphoniums of Alex and Rex for the quartet cadenza from Sovereign Heritage by Jack Beaver in Together. The Amen section from Handel's Messiah provides the basis for a contrapuntal flight of fancy as the work moves towards a conclusion. Other less overt fragments contribute to the story.

Dynasty was co-commissioned by the British Open Brass Band Championships for the September 2019 contest, and the Brass Band Committee VLAMO for the Belgian Brass Band Championships 2019.

Peter Graham