Brass Band - Grade 4
SKU:
BT.CMP-0576-01-130
Composed by Stephen
Bulla. Concert Piece.
Score Only. Composed
2001. Curnow Music #CMP
0576-01-130. Published by
Curnow Music
(BT.CMP-0576-01-130).
Stephen Bullas
highly descriptive work
was written to
commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the Battle
of Iwo Jima, which took
place between the 19th
February and 26th March
1945.
Casualties on
both the American and
Japanese sides were
horrendously high before
the famous image of the
raising of the flag on
top of Mount Suribachi
signalled the end of one
of the most significant
and terrifying Pacific
conflicts of the
SecondWorld War.
The
work received its first
performance by the brass
choir of the U.S. Marine
Band at the National
Cathedral in Washington
D.C. and is divided into
four programmatic
sections.
The first
portrays the sense of
anticipation before
conflict (Prologue),
before the arduous
journey to the scene of
the battle (Approach by
Sea) is followed by
introspection and prayer
featuring the hymn tune
Melita (Chorale Prayer),
andfinally, the hostile
confrontation itself
(Engagement).
There
are frequent references
to the Marines Hymn and
the US National Anthem,
particularly in the
closing bars, depicting
the ultimate raising of
the American flag.