Sunset over the Weald

Sunset over the Weald

Loud music tends to be played fast, and slow music quietly: I wanted to write a slow loud piece. I had in mind Elgar's Nimrod from the Enigma Variations - itself a tribute to the slow movements of Beethoven.
The result is a grave march-like piece about seven minutes long. First reaction from the players was that they like the mixture of classical and jazz (sounds familiar!). One compared it to a theme tune for a science fiction film! Richard Strauss, look out...
It uses some special wind/brass techniques: flutter-tonguing gives a rapid tremolo effect (wait till you hear it on the tuba!); stopped notes for the horn give that wonderful mysterious lontano sound like hearing the horn from a long way off; the first trumpeter also plays piccolo trumpet - sometimes called a Bach trumpet. I like its unique silvery sound; you can often hear it in performances of the Second Brandenburg Concerto for example.
And the title? Look west from Bidborough Ridge at close of day on a beautiful evening and you’ll know.