The landing of the Portuguese on Madeira Island in 1419 is widely regarded as the beginning of the Discovery Age which saw European explorers of the 15th century sail across all the globe. To commemorate the 600th anniversary of this fact the author wrote this small but energetic overture as an homage to those first Portuguese sailors who bravely and boldly sailed through the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in search of the unknown. As such, "Atlantic Waves" is an excellent addition to any concert.