Music

Music. What is music exactly? Is it sound or is it rhythm? Music plays a large roll in our society. It sets moods, themes, and even expectations.

What does music consist of, well let us take a look.

First we have tempo, how fast is the rhythm. Is the piece FORTISSIMO or pianissimo, is the pace Andante or Vivace! ? Not many pieces are just one of these things, but they are many. This is what gives music a story line, if you will. Pieces such as The Great Locomotive Chase by Robert W. Smith, clearly tells the tale of a train chase. This is a very intense piece of music and very fun to play, especially for baritone and trombone.

With a little back ground information, we see the train chase with our ears more than ever.

The scene is set during the Civil War Era, around 1862 in Northern Georgia. Union soldiers, led by James Andrews, slipped into Confederate territory to steal a locomotive to slow the W&A railroad. This was a vital line for the Confederate supply line.

Pay close attention to the scenes set by the piece. Play the song in the play list.

Notice how the piece starts out slow and deliberate, like some one is sneaking around. Then the piece starts to pick up speed, maybe like a steam locomotive? Now we are at an accelerating pace, things are getting faster and faster, we hear a few gunshots. The music turns soft and flowing, leading to something. The trombones come in with a triumphant sounding chorus. The train is loosing speed and finally a wreck?

This piece is a great example of how music can tell a story with out words.