Southern Citadel (for Concert Band) Concert Band

Citadel was composed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The University of Kansas (1865 to 2015.) It begins with optional offstage chimes (one or two sets [opt.]) to depict the daily ringing of the bells in KU's World War II Memorial Campanile. Trumpets introduce a fanfare-like figure that quickly evolves into the opening theme of the work. As the music settles and becomes softer, a saxophone choir introduces a slower, more pensive middle theme intended to describe the university's academic nature. A quiet moment at the end of this section hints at the famous Rock Chalk Chant in solo horn before the chimes and fanfare return to end the work in a final, dramatic outburst of sound and color.