About the music
The Alcázar
This beautiful castle fortress was built in the 12th century upon a Roman fortress ruin overlooking the Eresma and Clamores rivers in Segovia, Spain. The pinnacles and tower may seem familiar as it is believed to have served as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella’s castle. This Moorish fortress became a palace to kings, and throughout its varied and troubled past its use and design changed rapidly. It was home to Juana la Loca, saw the coronation of Queen Isabel in 1474 and was host to the marriage of Philip II to his fourth wife, Anna of Austria. It was in The Alcázar that Queen Isabella promised Columbus the backing he needed to fund his venture that discovered America.
The composition is designed for beginning band and should be performed with robust tones and firm articulations. There is great opportunity to address the fundamentals of air flow with respect to dynamics and sharing of the melody to promote listening when interpreting balance. Care should be taken to balance the percussion parts with the winds and feel free to make substitutions to create your own style of accompaniment.
- Composer: Clifford Spires
- 0.5
- 65
- 1:18