This magnificent work was commissioned by The Illinois Brass Band for the 2024 North American Brass Band Championships. Based on Leon Boëllmann's epic organ work Suite Gothique, the 3rd movement of which is entitled Prière à Notre-Dame (A Prayer for Notre Dame), it pays tribute to the nearly 700-year-old Notre-Dame de Paris after the fire which did so much damage to this iconic building.
Notre-Dame stands out for its three pipe organs (one historic) and its immense church bells, which are referenced at various times in Gothique Fantasy. Two of the other movements from Boëllmann’s work also provide inspiration for the piece, firstly the Introduction - Choral, and the famous Toccata, snippets of which appear at various times in the piece.
Gothique Fantasy opens with the Choral, a solo offstage cornet sounding the opening statement. A quintet, stood to the side of the stage, takes up the Choral, while the rest of the band enters on held muted notes, creating a sustained effect evoking the harmonies spreading across the vast cathedral. Colossal organ-like sounds announce themselves as the full band takes on the theme.
A lively Animato follows. Here there are continued references to the Choral, while the famous Toccata motif starts to appear.
A Misterioso section ensues, which leads into a poignant Prayer for Notre Dame featuring a euphonium duet, where the music reflects upon the devasting fire and centuries of history and artefacts that were lost. A lone euphonium the sounds, representing the remaining remnants of the cathedral.
A chaotic and rhythmic Presto, based on the Toccata, then follows and tests the technique of the band from top to bottom, whilst moving through various time signatures, the pulse lacking any sense of stability. A return to the Choral theme leads into a further reflective section, this time featuring the secondary theme from the Toccata with a flugel and solo horn duet.
Next the music arrives at an aleatory section (Senza Misura), which depicts the remnants of the fire, followed by the grand cathedral emerging out of the ashes. Various motifs from earlier in the piece are heard across the band. At this point, various parts enter at different times on the conductor’s signal, before building towards a 6/8 Presto. Here the music gathers momentum as it leads to a Grandioso finale featuring the Choral in all its glory. However, to conclude the work, the final strains of the Toccata sound, bringing the work to a glorious conclusion as Notre-Dame rises again!
To view a video of The Illinois Brass Band performing the work please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG3JB6Ye5aU
Duration: 15.00 minutes approx.
Difficulty Level: 1st Section +
This PDF download includes parts and score.
Sheet music available from www.brassband.co.uk
Instrumentation:
Soprano Cornet Eb
Solo Cornet Bb
Repiano Cornet Bb
2nd Cornet Bb
3rd Cornet Bb
Flugel Horn Bb
Solo Horn Eb
1st Horn Eb
2nd Horn Eb
1st Baritone Bb
2nd Baritone Bb
1st Trombone Bb
2nd Trombone Bb
Bass Trombone
Euphonium Bb
Bass Eb
Bass Bb
Percussion 1-4