Cat No. JM46962
Price £60.00
Composer: Peter Meechan
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

Commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2007 Scottish Open Championship, Macbeth takes its' inspiration from the Shakespeare play of the same name. Character portraits (Of the three witches as well as Macbeth himself), abstractions (The lament), and scenes (Macbeth's final battle with Macduff) make up the nine sections of the piece.

1. WITCHES

The prophecies of the three witches are an integral part of the play, and in this opening section, these mysterious characters are represented by three different sections of music that introduces the listener to the musical material of the piece.

2. DAGGER

Macbeth's "Is this a dagger I see before thee" speech, where an imaginary dagger leads him to contemplate the pending murder, builds in intensity before the bell tolls at its' conclusion - a sign from Lady Macbeth that Duncan is now alone.

3. GENERAL MACBETH

A character portrait of Macbeth - a fearless General who has led his armies to defeat foes from all over Europe. His ambition and flair that make him such a great General are also the characteristics that lead to his eventual downfall.

4. CONTEMPLATIONS of LADY MCBETH

Alone and mad, Lady Macbeth ponders all that has gone, before taking her own life.

5. LAMENT

Although the play tells of Macbeth not feeling the pain of his wife's death, this lament ponders not only her death, but the tale as a whole.

6. TOMORROW, TOMORROW and TOMORROW

It is in this final soliloquy that we see the ultimate tragedy of Macbeth - the realisation that his life is ultimately worthless.

7. A SPELL STILL CAST

This acts as an prologue to section eight, restating the original "witches" music, before heading into Macbeth's final battle.

8. FINAL BATTLE

Macbeth's final battle, where he locks swords with Macduff.

9. NOT OF WOMAN BORN

Macbeth's realisation that the witches have misled him comes all too late, as Macduff beheads Macbeth, fulfilling the last prophecy.