Fields of Destruction
Three Songs for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble
Peter Meechan
Ensemble: Wind Ensemble
Solo Instrument: Euphonium
Grade: 5
Duration: 10:00
Year of Composition: 2009
Publisher: Peter Meechan
Year of Publication: 2009
Publisher Catalog Number: PMM040
Available: Yes
How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase
Links:
Solo Euphonium
Piccolo
Flutes 1,2
Oboe
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinets 1,2,3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Sax
B♭ Tenor Sax
B♭ Trumpets 1,2
F Horns 1,2
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone
Tubular Bells
For Pat Stuckemeyer.
In three movements.
Program Notes:
Content warning: War
Fields of Destruction is a collection of three songs for euphonium and wind ensemble. These aren’t songs in the classical music sense, nor are they representative of “pop” songs or those from a musical. The three songs take more from the folk tradition of story telling and protest songs, transparent in nature, plain in delivery, and also heartfelt.
The subject matter is war, and more specifically, the wars which we (The UK and the US) are involved in. Whilst the piece was in its gestation period, it occurred to me that there was a really strange irony. Flanders Fields are covered in poppies, now a symbol of remembrance, and of peace, yet the huge plantations of the same flower in Afghanistan fund the terrorist attacks on our nations, as well as fund the organisations that plan such attacks, and fight wars with our troops in Afghanistan.
(Peter Meechan)
