Maple Leaf Brass #5 - Three Images

Level of difficulty: very difficult

This work attempts to portray in music three different facets of the nature of Christ. The first movement is called Christ Incarnate and is inspired by the idea of ‘the word’ becoming ‘flesh’. The music is based on the old German carol Es ist ein rose entsprungen or as we know it, A great and mighty wonder. The movement is mainly festive in nature as befits the Christmas association. Movement two portrays Christ the shepherd and is pastoral in nature. It is a transcription of the composer’s own choral setting of Psalm 23. The music of the third movement seeks to portray Christ Triumphant. It is inspired by thoughts around the old hymn The strife is o’er, the battle’s won and is based on the two old melodies associated with this great hymn — Victory and Vulpius. The movement begins in a dance-like manner. After reaching a point of climax and a break in the flow of the music, there are a few moments of reflection before the music surges onward to a triumphant conclusion.

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