Franco Cesarini

Arizona op. 46 (Fanfarenorchester)

Arizona, written in the typical three-part form of an overture, is not merely descriptive. Rather, it conveys states of mind and emotions. The composition opens with a musical description of the endless desert landscapes dotted with cactus, so characteristic of this southern state of the U.S.A. A native Indian on horseback rides at a gentle pace, while a group of cowboys gallops relentlessly on in the boundless plains. We can hear the unmistakable roar of the Grand Canyon Railway followed by a pause. The breathtaking landscape of the Petrified Forest leads to utter bewilderment. At last the colossal scenery of Monument Valley comes into view in all its splendour, transmitting deeply-felt emotions. Finally, the music accelerates to a dramatic close.