It begins, appropriately, with fanfare: the brass quintet鈥檚 trumpets and trombone piercing through silence, bold and bombastic. Soon, the core of the piece begins: a lilting march in 6/8 time, echoing Scottish musical traditions but with a feel closer to something you might hear in Game of Thrones, or some grand adventure movie.
The title of the piece is The Eagle and Shield, a new ceremonial composition for Dal鈥檚 200th anniversary by alumnus Paul St-Amand (BComm 鈥�04). And it鈥檚 about to get its grand debut.
Chosen from among 24 entries to an open call for submissions in honour of Dal鈥檚 bicentennial, The Eagle and Shield will have its first public performance as part of the F event, courtesy of the Maritime Brass Quintet. Subsequently, the quintet will perform the piece as part of Convocation ceremonies in both Spring and Fall 2018. 聽
Update, Feb. 6:
鈥淚t means a great deal to me that it was liked and appreciated by the committee that put this search together, especially knowing there were really fine musicians on that panel,鈥� says St-Amand, originally from Bedford, N.S. 鈥淎nd as a proud alumnus of Dal, there鈥檚 a little bit of school spirit in the mix, to know that I contributed something to this 200th anniversary celebration. It makes me very happy.鈥�
J茅r么me Blais, associate professor of composition in the Fountain School of Performing Arts and who helped select the piece, says it鈥檚 perfect for the occasion.
鈥淚t is catchy and intricate at the same time, lively and optimistic, but there is also an introspective quality to it,鈥� says Dr. Blais. 鈥淚 think it has the potential to be an audience favourite, year after year. From a compositional point of view, I call this a tour de force: a work that has the ability to please the most demanding music lovers and specialists, as well as be appreciated by a very broad audience, with no prior experience with, or no particular taste for, 鈥榮erious鈥� music.鈥�
An anthem that says 鈥淒-A-L鈥�
St-Amand first heard about the call for submissions via a Facebook post from a fellow musician. As a trumpet player and the founder of the Bedford Brass Quintet, his interest was piqued by the fact the piece would be performed by a quintet.
鈥淏rass instruments are incredibly expressive, and the sound they make together is absolutely gorgeous,鈥� he explains. 鈥淲hat I love about it is every instrument in an ensemble that size is simultaneously part of the group and also a soloist. There鈥檚 no hiding as a member of a brass quintet鈥� you have to make every voice count.鈥�