There are three strong elements to this piece. The first is the quote of the first six notes of the third phrase of "Bluebells of Scotland," a favorite of Mr, Sam Watson. The second is the sound of bells in the percussion and the bell-tone effect written in the winds (an example is in measures 2 - 4). The third element is the joyful ending, representing a celebration of the life of Sam Watson and the positve influence a bandmaster can make in the lives of young musicians. The hymn should be treated in a cantabile style, with rubato appropriate to the ensemble.
