When composing this work the brief from the commissioning band wasfor the composer to base the work on a chorale-like subject matter andthis he has done with aplomb. In the very first bars a chorale melody ispresented and gradually the same thematic material is more extensivelyorchestrated with the melodic themes becoming more varied. With afew surprising harmonic turns the piece comes to a majestic end. Thisis a well-structured work of extreme elegance.