James Barnes

Hope Arises

Hope Arises is one of two new works requested in 2021 of composer James Barnes by Colonel Donald Schofield, to be written for the United States Air Force Band. It is a short piece intended to be used as an “opener” for AFB's tour concerts. It opens with a dramatic brass fanfare, based on consecutive perfect fourths first introduced by horns and euphoniums, followed by a short oboe solo. An ascending line in mallets and woodwind provide a rather celestial transition, taking the listener to a lively, melodic allegro, which is based on the same opening fourths. This allegro theme is developed until a return to the opening fanfare is powerfully re-announced in brass. The work concludes quite dramatically, and includes a return of the ascending line in woodwinds, mallets, harp and piano.