To A New Dawn was commissioned by the United States Continental Army Band - Captain Timothy J. Holtan Commander and Conductor.The brief was for a piece to celebrate the 3rd Millennium and it was the composer’s aim to provide a work which as well as looking forward to the challenges of the new century also contained moments of reflection about the last one.After a bright introduction featuring the trumpets a perky theme passing quickly through several keys appears on the woodwinds. A solo trumpet takes up a new theme over bubbling quavers (eighth notes) and this leads to a rhythmic figure on low clarinets followed by the upper woodwinds. A brass interlude follows and after ashort bridge passage an oboe takes up a contrasting legato tune that builds to a climax.An andante section follows with solos for horn and flugel horn (or trumpet) and a florid flute cadenza. A passionate climax leads back to the faster music and eventually to a full recapitulation revisiting the earlier material before a lively coda close the work as it began.
