James L. Hosay

Valhalla

Few composers in history have had more influence on music and on other composers of the Romantic period than Richard Wagner. Whenever his works are performed somewhere, resident composers flock to concert halls to hear his music. His opera music is legendary, especially, of course, his famous opera cycle 'The Ring of the Nibelungs', considered by many cultural and music critics to be the greatest work of all time. The overtures to many of his operas are among the most frequently performed works in the world.

VALHALLA is a mini overture written in the style of Wagner's opera overtures. The composition begins with a majestic fanfare by the brass and saxophones - soon joined by the woodwinds. This leads into a maestoso section with beautiful melodies from the horns and low brass. After a brief, lively quotation from 'Ride of the Valkyries' comes a beautiful aria that builds more and more to a powerful climax and then gently recedes. From here on, a return to the sounds of the beginning slowly develops before VALHALLA ends with a sonorous and traditional finale.

- Compulsory piece of the intermediate level (category 3) for 2016/2017 in Baden-Württemberg (BDB/BVBW) -.