Beschreibung
The Spirit of The Vikings composer’s notes 5/19/06
This is a march for concert band in the John Phillips Sousa style. The Spirit of the Vikings starts in 6/8 time with an Introduction and the 1st melody which is similar to Sousa’s style. The melody is inspired by the Viking image as bold and courageous adventurers.
Following a brass fanfare, the second melody was inspired by the fact that the Coeur d’Alene High School Mascot name is The Vikings. Coeur d’Alene Idaho was inhabited by a large Scandinavian population in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The local radio station KVNI used to play a Scandinavian music program every Saturday morning for an hour when I was a child. The music that influenced me for this piece was primarily polkas and Schottisches. So the second theme is a variation of the first melody in cut time featuring the clarinets playing and a combined Schottische/polka style.
The 3rd theme features the tuba, baritone and trombone sections.
In the final part of the piece after a short counter battle between the trumpets and low brass, I return to theme 1, raising the key a fourth higher than the beginning of the piece and feature two counter-melodies for added interest including a counter-melody in flutes and piccolos and another counter melody in the trumpets.
This piece was premiered on May 18, 2006 by the Coeur d’Alene Idaho High School Wind Ensemble conducted by Jim Phillips. Enjoy the piece.
Gary A. Edwards
May 19, 2006