Description

Instrumentation: standard Wind Band

I first heard this beautiful melody when my school was involved in a “Sing for Peace” concert in Newcastle’s City Hall. The melody consists of two 8-bar sections and can be sung as a canon, the second part entering after eight bars. On that occasion, it was sung by the combined voices of some 2.500 school children and was a very powerful and moving experience.

Subsequently, I arranged it for both Brass Band and Wind Band, adding various short countermelodies and using the different timbres available to provide both contrast and variety.

It builds up from a monophonic opening to climax with the full band.

Please note that the snare drum should be played with brushes rather than sticks.