Roll of Honour Fanfare [Conducteur] - Facile De Haske Publications
Fanfare Band - Grade 3 SKU: BT.DHP-1125214-120 Composed by Jacob De Haan....(+)
Fanfare Band - Grade 3
SKU:
BT.DHP-1125214-120
Composed by Jacob De
Haan. Concert and Contest
Collection Brass Band en
Fanfare. Score Only.
Composed 2012. 40 pages.
De Haske Publications
#DHP 1125214-120.
Published by De Haske
Publications
(BT.DHP-1125214-120).
9x12 inches.
English-German-French-Dut
ch.
On a war
memorial in the Dutch
village of Wons is
engraved a list of names
to honour the fallen in
World War II. This is the
basis for the name of
this piece. However, this
composition was written
for everyone who has made
Wons what it is today: a
pretty place near to Lake
IJssel with a
comfortable way of life.
The piece begins with a
celebratory introduction
in which the village is
presented to the
listener. There follows a
delightful rhythmic and
high-tempo theme that
reflects the happiness,
innocence and carefree
atmosphere before the
war. Now we hear a moody,
fragmented theme
depicting soldiers
shooting. This is brought
to a close with dissonant
clusters of
sound,intoning the
dreadful tragedy of the
war. The ensuing quiet
gives way to a calm
middle section in a minor
key that portrays both
frustration and
consolation. The fast
tempo of the beginning
returns, this time in the
form of a victory march.
We hear freedom being
celebrated. We hear the
previous happy, innocent
and carefree themes, too.
There follows a festive,
martial theme, a tribute
to the village, before
the piece closes with
sounds of celebration.
Op de gedenksteen
in het Friese dorp Wons
staat een erelijst (roll
of honour) gegraveerd ter
nagedachtenis aan de
gevallenen van de Tweede
Wereldoorlog. De titel
van dit werk verwijst
naar deze lijst. Deze
compositie is echter
tevens geschreven voor
alle mensen die Wons
hebben gemaakt tot wat
het nu is: een prachtig
dorpje vlak bij het
IJsselmeer waar het
prettig toeven is. De
compositie begint met een
statige inleiding, waarin
het dorp zich presenteert
aan de luisteraar. Dan
klinkt een aansprekend
ritmisch thema in een
snel tempo dat de
vrolijkheid,
onbevangenheid en
onbezorgdheid van voor de
oorlog uitstraalt. Dit
gaat over in een melodie
in mineur, die het
naderendeoorlogsgevaar
aankondigt. Dan is er een
grillig thema met stops
waarin het schieten van
de soldaten te horen is.
Dit eindigt in enkele
dissonante clusters die
het tragische dieptepunt
van de oorlog
accentueren. De
daaropvolgende stilte
lost op in een gedragen
middendeel in mineur
waaruit enerzijds
verdriet en anderzijds
troost spreekt. Dan komt
het snelle tempo van het
begin weer terug, ditmaal
in de vorm van een
vreugdemars. De vrijheid
wordt gevierd. Ook het
thema van de vrolijkheid,
onbevangenheid en
onbezorgdheid is weer te
horen. Er volgt nu een
statig martiaal thema,
een eerbetoon aan het
dorp, waarna het werk
wordt afgesloten met
feestelijke klanken.
Auf einem
Gedenkstein im
niederländischen Dorf
Wons ist eine Namensliste
zu Ehren der Gefallenen
im Zweiten Weltkrieg
eingraviert. Auf diese
bezieht sich der Titel
des Werkes, der
wörtlich übersetzt
‘Ehrenliste’
bedeutet. Diese
Komposition wurde jedoch
für alle Menschen
geschrieben, die Wons zu
dem gemacht haben, was es
heute ist: ein schöner
Ort nahe des
IJsselmeeres, in dem es
sich gut leben lässt.
Das Werk beginnt mit
einer feierlichen
Einleitung, in welcher
sich das Dorf dem
Zuhörer
präsentiert. Dann
erklingt ein reizvolles
rhythmisches und
temporeiches Thema, das
die Fröhlichkeit,
Unbefangenheit und
Sorglosigkeit vor dem
Krieg ausstrahlt. Dieses
geht in eine
Moll-Melodieüber,
welche von der nahenden
Kriegsgefahr kündet.
Dann erklingt ein
launenhaftes Thema mit
Unterbrechungen, in dem
das Schießen der
Soldaten zu hören ist.
Dieses endet in einigen
dissonanten Clustern, die
den tragischen Tiefpunkt
des Krieges betonen. Die
darauffolgende Stille
löst sich in einen
ruhigen Mittelteil in
Moll auf, aus dem
einerseits Verdruss und
andererseits Trost
spricht. Dann kehrt das
schnelle Tempo des
Anfangs zurück, dieses
Mal in der Form eines
Freudenmarsches. Die
Freiheit wird gefeiert.
Auch das Thema der
Fröhlichkeit,
Unbefangenheit und
Sorglosigkeit ist wieder
zu hören. Nun folgt
ein feierliches,
martialisches Thema, eine
Ehrerbietung an das Dorf,
bevor das Werk mit
festlichen Klängen
endet.
Roll of Honour Fanfare [Conducteur et Parties séparées] - Facile De Haske Publications
Fanfare Band - Grade 3 SKU: BT.DHP-1125214-020 Composed by Jacob De Haan....(+)
Fanfare Band - Grade 3
SKU:
BT.DHP-1125214-020
Composed by Jacob De
Haan. Concert and Contest
Collection Brass Band en
Fanfare. Set (Score &
Parts). Composed 2012. De
Haske Publications #DHP
1125214-020. Published by
De Haske Publications
(BT.DHP-1125214-020).
9x12 inches.
English-German-French-Dut
ch.
On a war
memorial in the Dutch
village of Wons is
engraved a list of names
to honour the fallen in
World War II. This is the
basis for the name of
this piece. However, this
composition was written
for everyone who has made
Wons what it is today: a
pretty place near to Lake
IJssel with a
comfortable way of life.
The piece begins with a
celebratory introduction
in which the village is
presented to the
listener. There follows a
delightful rhythmic and
high-tempo theme that
reflects the happiness,
innocence and carefree
atmosphere before the
war. Now we hear a moody,
fragmented theme
depicting soldiers
shooting. This is brought
to a close with dissonant
clusters of
sound,intoning the
dreadful tragedy of the
war. The ensuing quiet
gives way to a calm
middle section in a minor
key that portrays both
frustration and
consolation. The fast
tempo of the beginning
returns, this time in the
form of a victory march.
We hear freedom being
celebrated. We hear the
previous happy, innocent
and carefree themes, too.
There follows a festive,
martial theme, a tribute
to the village, before
the piece closes with
sounds of celebration.
Op de gedenksteen
in het Friese dorp Wons
staat een erelijst (roll
of honour) gegraveerd ter
nagedachtenis aan de
gevallenen van de Tweede
Wereldoorlog. De titel
van dit werk verwijst
naar deze lijst. Deze
compositie is echter
tevens geschreven voor
alle mensen die Wons
hebben gemaakt tot wat
het nu is: een prachtig
dorpje vlak bij het
IJsselmeer waar het
prettig toeven is. De
compositie begint met een
statige inleiding, waarin
het dorp zich presenteert
aan de luisteraar. Dan
klinkt een aansprekend
ritmisch thema in een
snel tempo dat de
vrolijkheid,
onbevangenheid en
onbezorgdheid van voor de
oorlog uitstraalt. Dit
gaat over in een melodie
in mineur, die het
naderendeoorlogsgevaar
aankondigt. Dan is er een
grillig thema met stops
waarin het schieten van
de soldaten te horen is.
Dit eindigt in enkele
dissonante clusters die
het tragische dieptepunt
van de oorlog
accentueren. De
daaropvolgende stilte
lost op in een gedragen
middendeel in mineur
waaruit enerzijds
verdriet en anderzijds
troost spreekt. Dan komt
het snelle tempo van het
begin weer terug, ditmaal
in de vorm van een
vreugdemars. De vrijheid
wordt gevierd. Ook het
thema van de vrolijkheid,
onbevangenheid en
onbezorgdheid is weer te
horen. Er volgt nu een
statig martiaal thema,
een eerbetoon aan het
dorp, waarna het werk
wordt afgesloten met
feestelijke klanken.
Auf einem
Gedenkstein im
niederländischen Dorf
Wons ist eine Namensliste
zu Ehren der Gefallenen
im Zweiten Weltkrieg
eingraviert. Auf diese
bezieht sich der Titel
des Werkes, der
wörtlich übersetzt
‘Ehrenliste’
bedeutet. Diese
Komposition wurde jedoch
für alle Menschen
geschrieben, die Wons zu
dem gemacht haben, was es
heute ist: ein schöner
Ort nahe des
IJsselmeeres, in dem es
sich gut leben lässt.
Das Werk beginnt mit
einer feierlichen
Einleitung, in welcher
sich das Dorf dem
Zuhörer
präsentiert. Dann
erklingt ein reizvolles
rhythmisches und
temporeiches Thema, das
die Fröhlichkeit,
Unbefangenheit und
Sorglosigkeit vor dem
Krieg ausstrahlt. Dieses
geht in eine
Moll-Melodieüber,
welche von der nahenden
Kriegsgefahr kündet.
Dann erklingt ein
launenhaftes Thema mit
Unterbrechungen, in dem
das Schießen der
Soldaten zu hören ist.
Dieses endet in einigen
dissonanten Clustern, die
den tragischen Tiefpunkt
des Krieges betonen. Die
darauffolgende Stille
löst sich in einen
ruhigen Mittelteil in
Moll auf, aus dem
einerseits Verdruss und
andererseits Trost
spricht. Dann kehrt das
schnelle Tempo des
Anfangs zurück, dieses
Mal in der Form eines
Freudenmarsches. Die
Freiheit wird gefeiert.
Auch das Thema der
Fröhlichkeit,
Unbefangenheit und
Sorglosigkeit ist wieder
zu hören. Nun folgt
ein feierliches,
martialisches Thema, eine
Ehrerbietung an das Dorf,
bevor das Werk mit
festlichen Klängen
endet.
Mvt. 2 from Symphony
No. 6 (Three Places in
the East). Composed
by Dan Welcher. Full
score. 52 pages. Theodore
Presser Company
#165-00102F. Published by
Theodore Presser Company
(PR.16500102F).
ISBN
9781491131749. UPC:
680160680276.
Ever
since the success of my
series of wind ensemble
works Places in the West,
I've been wanting to
write a companion piece
for national parks on the
other side of the north
American continent. The
earlier work, consisting
of GLACIER, THE
YELLOWSTONE FIRES,
ARCHES, and ZION, spanned
some twenty years of my
composing life, and since
the pieces called for
differing groups of
instruments, and were in
slightly different styles
from each other, I never
considered them to be
connected except in their
subject matter. In their
depiction of both the
scenery and the human
history within these
wondrous places, they had
a common goal: awaking
the listener to the
fragile beauty that is in
them; and calling
attention to the ever
more crucial need for
preservation and
protection of these wild
places, unique in all the
world. With this new
work, commissioned by a
consortium of college and
conservatory wind
ensembles led by the
University of Georgia, I
decided to build upon
that same model---but to
solidify the process. The
result, consisting of
three movements (each
named for a different
national park in the
eastern US), is a
bona-fide symphony. While
the three pieces could be
performed separately,
they share a musical
theme---and also a common
style and
instrumentation. It is a
true symphony, in that
the first movement is
long and expository, the
second is a rather
tightly structured
scherzo-with-trio, and
the finale is a true
culmination of the whole.
The first movement,
Everglades, was the
original inspiration for
the entire symphony.
Conceived over the course
of two trips to that
astonishing place (which
the native Americans
called River of Grass,
the subtitle of this
movement), this movement
not only conveys a sense
of the humid, lush, and
even frightening scenery
there---but also an
overview of the entire
settling-of- Florida
experience. It contains
not one, but two native
American chants, and also
presents a view of the
staggering influence of
modern man on this
fragile part of the
world. Beginning with a
slow unfolding marked
Heavy, humid, the music
soon presents a gentle,
lyrical theme in the solo
alto saxophone. This
theme, which goes through
three expansive phrases
with breaks in between,
will appear in all three
movements of the
symphony. After the mood
has been established, the
music opens up to a rich,
warm setting of a
Cherokee morning song,
with the simple happiness
that this part of Florida
must have had prior to
the nineteenth century.
This music, enveloping
and comforting, gradually
gives way to a more
frenetic, driven section
representative of the
intrusion of the white
man. Since Florida was
populated and developed
largely due to the
introduction of a train
system, there's a
suggestion of the
mechanized iron horse
driving straight into the
heartland. At that point,
the native Americans
become considerably less
gentle, and a second
chant seems to stand in
the way of the intruder;
a kind of warning song.
The second part of this
movement shows us the
great swampy center of
the peninsula, with its
wildlife both in and out
of the water. A new theme
appears, sad but noble,
suggesting that this land
is precious and must be
protected by all the
people who inhabit it. At
length, the morning song
reappears in all its
splendor, until the
sunset---with one last
iteration of the warning
song in the solo piccolo.
Functioning as a scherzo,
the second movement,
Great Smoky Mountains,
describes not just that
huge park itself, but one
brave soul's attempt to
climb a mountain there.
It begins with three
iterations of the
UR-theme (which began the
first movement as well),
but this time as up-tempo
brass fanfares in
octaves. Each time it
begins again, the theme
is a little slower and
less confident than the
previous time---almost as
though the hiker were
becoming aware of the
daunting mountain before
him. But then, a steady,
quick-pulsed ostinato
appears, in a constantly
shifting meter system of
2/4- 3/4 in alteration,
and the hike has begun.
Over this, a slower new
melody appears, as the
trek up the mountain
progresses. It's a big
mountain, and the ascent
seems to take quite
awhile, with little
breaks in the hiker's
stride, until at length
he simply must stop and
rest. An oboe solo, over
several free cadenza-like
measures, allows us (and
our friend the hiker) to
catch our breath, and
also to view in the
distance the rocky peak
before us. The goal is
somehow even more
daunting than at first,
being closer and thus
more frighteningly steep.
When we do push off
again, it's at a slower
pace, and with more
careful attention to our
footholds as we trek over
broken rocks. Tantalizing
little views of the
valley at every
switchback make our
determination even
stronger. Finally, we
burst through a stand of
pines and----we're at the
summit! The immensity of
the view is overwhelming,
and ultimately humbling.
A brief coda, while we
sit dazed on the rocks,
ends the movement in a
feeling of triumph. The
final movement, Acadia,
is also about a trip. In
the summer of 2014, I
took a sailing trip with
a dear friend from North
Haven, Maine, to the
southern coast of Mt.
Desert Island in Acadia
National Park. The
experience left me both
exuberant and exhausted,
with an appreciation for
the ocean that I hadn't
had previously. The
approach to Acadia
National Park by water,
too, was thrilling: like
the difference between
climbing a mountain on
foot with riding up on a
ski-lift, I felt I'd
earned the right to be
there. The music for this
movement is entirely
based on the opening
UR-theme. There's a sense
of the water and the
mysterious, quiet deep
from the very beginning,
with seagulls and bell
buoys setting the scene.
As we leave the harbor,
the theme (in a canon
between solo euphonium
and tuba) almost seems as
if large subaquatic
animals are observing our
departure. There are
three themes (call them
A, B and C) in this
seafaring journey---but
they are all based on the
UR theme, in its original
form with octaves
displaced, in an
upside-down form, and in
a backwards version as
well. (The ocean, while
appearing to be
unchanging, is always
changing.) We move out
into the main channel
(A), passing several
islands (B), until we
reach the long draw that
parallels the coastline
called Eggemoggin Reach,
and a sudden burst of new
speed (C). Things
suddenly stop, as if the
wind had died, and we
have a vision: is that
really Mt. Desert Island
we can see off the port
bow, vaguely in the
distance? A chorale of
saxophones seems to
suggest that. We push off
anew as the chorale ends,
and go through all three
themes again---but in
different
instrumentations, and
different keys. At the
final tack-turn, there it
is, for real: Mt. Desert
Island, big as life.
We've made it. As we pull
into the harbor, where
we'll secure the boat for
the night, there's a
feeling of achievement.
Our whale and dolphin
friends return, and we
end our journey with
gratitude and
celebration. I am
profoundly grateful to
Jaclyn Hartenberger,
Professor of Conducting
at the University of
Georgia, for leading the
consortium which provided
the commissioning of this
work.
Performed by The Beatles. Piano/Vocal/Chords (Arrangements for piano and voice w...(+)
Performed by The Beatles.
Piano/Vocal/Chords
(Arrangements for piano
and voice with guitar
chords). Size 9x12
inches. 448 pages.
Published by Hal Leonard
Piano, Voix et Guitare [Partition] - Intermédiaire Alfred Publishing
For voice, piano and guitar chords. Format: piano/vocal/chords songbook. With vo...(+)
For voice, piano and
guitar chords. Format:
piano/vocal/chords
songbook. With vocal
melody, piano
accompaniment, lyrics,
chord names and guitar
chord diagrams. Christmas
and holiday. 192 pages.
9x12 inches.
Royal Coronation Dances Orchestre d'harmonie [Conducteur et Parties séparées] - Facile Manhattan Beach Music
Concert band - Grade 3 SKU: MH.1-59913-054-8 Composed by Bob Margolis. Su...(+)
Concert band - Grade 3
SKU:
MH.1-59913-054-8
Composed by Bob Margolis.
Suitable for advanced
middle school, high
school, community and
college bands. Conductor
score and set of parts.
Duration 4:45. Published
by Manhattan Beach Music
(MH.1-59913-054-8).
ISBN
9781599130545.
Roya
l Coronation Dances is
the first sequel to the
Fanfare Ode & Festival,
both being settings of
dance music originally
arranged by Gervaise in
the mid 16th-century (the
next sequel is The
Renaissance Fair, which
uses music of Susato and
Praetorius). Fanfare Ode
& Festival has been
performed by many tens of
thousands of students,
both in high school and
junior high school. I
have heard that some of
them are amazed that the
music they are playing
was first played and
danced to over 400 years
ago. Some students tend
to think that music
started with Handel and
his Messiah to be
followed by Beethoven and
his Fifth Symphony, with
naught in between or
before of consequence.
Although Royal Coronation
Dances is derived from
the same source as
Fanfare Ode & Festival,
they are treated in
different ways. I
envisioned this new suite
programmatically -- hence
the descriptive movement
titles, which I imagined
to be various dances
actually used at some
long-ago coronation. The
first movement depicts
the guests, both noble
and common, flanked by
flag and banner bearers,
arriving at the palace to
view the majestic event.
They are festive, their
flags swirling the air,
their cloaks brightly
colored. In the second
movement, the queen in
stately measure moves to
take her place on the
throne as leader and
protector of the realm.
In the third movement,
the jesters of the court
entertain the guests with
wild games of sport.
Musically, there are
interesting sonorities to
recreate. Very special
attention should be given
to the tambourine/tenor
drum part in the first
movement. Their lively
rhythms give the movement
its power. Therefore they
should be played as
distinctly and
brilliantly as possible.
The xylophone and
glockenspiel add clarity,
but must not be allowed
to dominate. Observe
especially the differing
dynamics; the intent is
to allow much buzzing
bass to penetrate. The
small drum (starting at
meas. 29) should be
played expressively, with
attention to the notated
articulations, with the
brass light and detached,
especially in a lively
auditorium. It is of some
further interest that the
first dance is extremely
modal. The original is
clearly in G mixolydian
mode (scale:
G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G).
However, other editors
might put in F-sharps in
many places (changing the
piece almost to G major),
in the belief that such
ficta would have been
automatically put in by
the 16th-century
performers as they
played. I doubt it. I
have not only eschewed
these within the work,
but even at the cadences.
So this arrangement is
most distinctly modal
(listen to the F-naturals
in meas. 22 and 23, for
instance), with all the
part-writing as Gervaise
wrote it. In the second
movement, be careful that
things do not become too
glued together. In the
16th century this music
might have been played by
a consort of recorders,
instruments very light of
touch and sensitive to
articulation. Concert
band can easily sound
heavy, and although this
movement has been scored
for tutti band, it must
not sound it. It is
essential, therefore,
that you hear all the
instruments, with none
predominating. Only when
each timbre can be heard
separately and
simultaneously will the
best blend occur, and
consequently the greatest
transparency. So aim for
a transparent, spacious
tutti sound in this
movement. Especially have
the flutes, who do this
so well, articulate
rather sharply, so as to
produce a chiffing sound,
and do not allow the
quarter-notes to become
too tied together in the
entire band. The entrance
of the drums (first
tenor, then bass) are
events and as such should
be audible. Incidentally,
this movement begins in F
Major and ends in D
Minor: They really didn't
care so much about those
things then. The third
movement (one friend has
remarked that it is the
most Margolisian of the
bunch, but actually I am
just getting subtler, I
hope) again relies upon
the percussion (and the
scoring) to make its
points. Xylophone in this
movement is meant to be
distinctly audible.
Therefore, be especially
sure that the xylophone
player is secure in the
part, and also that the
tambourine and toms sound
good. This movement must
fly or it will sink, so
rev up the band and
conduct it in 1 for this
mixolydian jesting. I
suppose the wildly
unrelated keys (clarinets
and then brass at the
end) would be a good
16th-century joke, but to
us, our
put-up-the-chorus-a-half-
step ears readily accept
such shenanigans.
Ensemble instrumentation:
1 Full Score, 1 Piccolo,
4 Flute 1, 4 Flute 2 & 3,
2 Oboe 1 & 2, 2 Bassoon 1
& 2, 1 Eb Clarinet, 4 Bb
Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet
2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 2 Eb
Alto Clarinet, 1 Eb
Contra Alto Clarinet, 3
Bb Bass & Bb Contrabass
Clarinet, 2 Eb Alto
Saxophone 1, 2 Eb Alto
Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor
Saxophone, 2 Eb Baritone
Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet
1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb
Trumpet 3, 4 Horn in F 1
& 2, 2 Trombone 1, 4
Trombone 2 & 3, 3
Euphonium (B.C.), 2
Euphonium (T.C.), 4 Tuba,
1 String Bass, 1 Timpani
(optional), 2 Xylophone &
Glockenspiel, 5
Percussion.
Piano Solo SKU: YM.GTP01101942 Game Music. Score. Yamaha Music Media #GTP...(+)
Piano Solo
SKU:
YM.GTP01101942
Game
Music. Score. Yamaha
Music Media #GTP01101942.
Published by Yamaha Music
Media (YM.GTP01101942).
ISBN 9784636115994. 12
x 9 inches.
This is
a collection of easy
piano solo arrangements
featuring memorable
masterpieces FINAL
FANTASY series of games I
to XIII, which have fans
all over the world. The
best album includes
iconic tracks such as
Chocobo Theme and
Aerith's Theme from the
early games, as well as
classic pieces like Eyes
On Me and Because You're
Here..
A
Period Piece for Bands of
Winds. Composed by
Carter Pann. Spiral.
Large Score. 58 pages.
Duration 12:30. Theodore
Presser Company
#115-40233L. Published by
Theodore Presser Company
(PR.11540233L).
ISBN
9781491129418. UPC:
680160674367. 11 x 14
inches.
At Her
Ladyship's Request (2016)
was an idea born out of
admiration for the wind
works of Percy Grainger -
most notably his
Lincolnshire Posey. The
names and places here are
all fictitious. Four
countrymen have come
forward at Her Ladyship's
request as we commoners
(and for as long as I can
remember) have been led
to believe Her Highness
has grown complacent in
her aged betrothal to His
Lordship. I. It has long
been established in this
hill country that young,
svelte Tom Abel has
caught her fancy eye. He
knocks about with the
swagger of a visiting
dignitary, confident and
cocksure. And then there
is his father's fortune.
Cecil Abel may be the
richest man in the land
save for His Lordship.
Tom, his only son, will
run his face straight
into that pile the moment
his old man kicks. II. It
is rare to spy Father
Daniel Bennett, High
Priest from the Abbey at
Lockwood Cross, loitering
in our very own town
square...but not as of
late. III. Is Her
Ladyship so desperate as
to call upon Old Man
Dimplesweet? Were you to
confirm this, I would
have straightened my back
and spit the ground
before you. Then I saw
what could not possibly
be misconstrued. And
where is His Lordship
anyway? IV. Pettybone!
Conniving... insidious. I
don't believe there has
been a greater rivalry
among men for
generations. The Duke's
ego alone could run our
nation. The grudges he
grows are notorious. His
mount is legendary. The
day has come to collect
his toll. At Her
Ladyship’s Request
(2016) was an idea born
out of admiration for the
wind works of Percy
Grainger – most
notably his Lincolnshire
Posey.The names and
places here are all
fictitious. Four
countrymen have come
forward at Her
Ladyship’s request
as we commoners (and for
as long as I can
remember) have been led
to believe Her Highness
has grown complacent in
her aged betrothal to His
Lordship.I. It has long
been established in this
hill country that young,
svelte Tom Abel has
caught her fancy eye. He
knocks about with the
swagger of a visiting
dignitary, confident and
cocksure. And then there
is his father’s
fortune. Cecil Abel may
be the richest man in the
land save for His
Lordship. Tom, his only
son, will run his face
straight into that pile
the moment his old man
kicks.II. It is rare to
spy Father Daniel
Bennett, High Priest from
the Abbey at Lockwood
Cross, loitering in our
very own town
square…but not as
of late.III. Is Her
Ladyship so desperate as
to call upon Old Man
Dimplesweet? Were you to
confirm this, I would
have straightened my back
and spit the ground
before you. Then I saw
what could not possibly
be misconstrued. And
where is His Lordship
anyway?IV. Pettybone!
Conniving…
insidious. I don’t
believe there has been a
greater rivalry among men
for generations. The
Duke’s ego alone
could run our nation. The
grudges he grows are
notorious. His mount is
legendary. The day has
come to collect his
toll.