About
Commissioned by the Scottish Brass Band Association for the 2007 Scottish Open Championship, Macbeth takes its' inspiration from the
Shakespeare play of the same name. Character portraits (Of the three witches as well as Macbeth himself), abstractions (The lament), and scenes (Macbeth's final battle with Macduff) make up the nine sections of the piece.
- i: Witches
The prophecies of the three witches are an integral part of the play, and in this opening section, these mysterious
characters are represented by three different sections of music that introduces the listener to the musical material of the piece.
- ii: Dagger
Macbeth's "Is this a dagger I see before thee" speech, where an imaginary dagger leads him to contemplate the pending murder, builds in
intensity before the bell tolls at its' conclusion - a sign from Lady Macbeth that Duncan is now alone.
- iii: General Macbeth
A character portrait of Macbeth - a
fearless General who has led his armies to defeat foes from all over Europe. His ambition and flair that make him such a great General are also the characteristics that lead to his eventual downfall.
- iv: Contemplations of Lady Macbeth
Alone and mad, Lady Macbeth ponders all that has gone, before taking her own life.
- v: Lament
Although the play tells of Macbeth not feeling the pain of his
wife's death, this lament ponders not only her death, but the tale as a whole.
- vi: Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
It is in this final soliloquy that we see the ultimate tragedy of Macbeth - the realisation that his life is ultimately worthless.
- vii: A spell still cast
This acts as an prologue to section eight, restating the original "witches" music, before heading into Macbeth's final battle.
- viii: Final Battle
Macbeth's final battle, where he locks swords with Macduff.
- ix: Not of woman born
Macbeth's realisation that the witches have misled him comes all too late, as Macduff beheads Macbeth, fulfilling the last
prophecy.
