Cat No. JM46737
Price £50.00
Composer: Bruce Fraser
Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), Music of BRUCE FRASER

3rd. Section testpiece for the National Finals in the Harrogate Conference Centre in September 2007.

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IMPERIUM
(The highest Roman power)

Three of Rome’s most powerful rulers
1. Pompey
2. Cicero
3. Julius Caesar

IMPERIUM

This suite represents the raw power of three of Rome’s great rulers and is inspired by Robert Harris’s book of the same name, which is about Cicero. Further reading of Conn Iggulden’s EMPEROR series gave a greater insight to the characters of the three men, which I have attempted to depict in these three musical portraits. What is particularly interesting, from a musical point of view, is the Roman strategy in battle, where they could split into smaller effective units at a moment’s notice.

Pompey – was a great general and conqueror who ruled Rome just before Julius Caesar’s rule. As Caesar approached Rome with his conquering army, Pompey fled to Greece and eventually lost to Caesar there. Fleeing to Alexandria, he was executed by the Egyptians, who presented his head to Caesar.

Cicero – was a consul of Rome. He was also a politician and a great orator. His was a complex character, full of devious plots and counter plots.

Julius Caesar – was a great general and a natural leader of men. He conquered much of Northern Europe, including Britain and returned to evict Pompey from Rome and chase him to Egypt, where he met and married Cleopatra. He eventually returned to rule Rome, where he was assassinated on the famous Ides of March by a group which included his long time friend Brutus.

Percussion requirements:-

Timpani:- Three timpani.

Percussion 1:- Suspended Cymbal, Large Tom, Snare Drum.

Percussion 2:- Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tam, Tam, Glockenspiel, Tambourine.

IMPERIUM was selected as the 3rd Section Test Piece for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain held in Harrogate on Saturday 29th September 2007.