War Stories

War Stories
Three Movements
Composed by Adrienne Albert
Published by Kenter Canyon Music
Instrumentation: Flute/Piccolo, Horn in F, and Piano
Duration: approximately 15 minutes

Commissioned by the wonderful ,Zinkali Trio, “War Stories” was composed over a period of three years with the first movement, “UnCivil Wars” being performed in 2012 at the International Horn Symposium 44 at the University of Texas, Denton, TX. In this first movement, the horn portrays the heroic soldier committed to protecting the lives and honor of the innocent civilians (the flute and piccolo). The opening is the horn playing the traditional Taps, a Civil War song, in the original major key. The piccolo joins in to promote the peace, and then the piano, Suddenly the mood dramatically shifts . The music darkens, the piano depicting the army supporting, defending and protecting the innocent civilians, battling the imaginary forces. Throughout the movement, there is the Taps motif struggling to maintain the peace only to lose with untold loss of life and limb. A tragic end in the name of Civility.
     The second movement, “The Good War” refers to WW2 and uses several motifs of WW2 songs that will engage the players and the audience. The final movement, “Homeward Bound” is a lyrical piece that brings the fighting men and women home to their loved ones and families. It is in homage to the brave young men and women who have fought so valiantly in the name of our country. Some come home whole, some in pieces, and some in boxes.