click for larger image

Sample sheet music

Title	Rubicon
Article no.	3004239
Category	Concert/wind/brass band
Subcategory	Contemporary Music (1945-present)
Instrumentation	Ha (concert/wind band)
Format	PrtStm (full score and parts)
Country of publication	Belgium (be)
Publisher *	Beriato Music
Publisher's article no. *	BMP 6041318
Delivery publisher *	Hal Leonard Europe
EAN (GTIN) *	9790365212156
ISMN *	979-0-3652-1215-6
ISMN-10 *	M-3652-1215-6
Year of publication	2006
Price	click here
Composer	Appermont, Bert
Difficulty level	4
Evaluation level of countries	C4 (Swiss 1st class); D5 (German highest level)
Duration	14:30
Additional info/contents	The Rubicon is a river in Northern Italy which Julius Caesar crossed with his army in 49 BC in defiance of the leaders of Rome, who feared his power. A civil war against rival Pompey ensued, which culminated in Caesar seizing power as the absolute ruler of Rome. The phrase "crossing the Rubicon” therefore refers to any person committing himself irrevocably to a risky, decisive and irrevocable of course of action. The work consists of three parts that deal with this important moment in history. Part 1 ("Meditation”) symbolises Caesar's request to the Gods to assist him in his difficult choice. In a slow introduction we hear the melancholy and beseeching sounds of the duduk (alternatively, this part can be played by a soprano saxophone) and of the soprano solo singer over the bourdon accompaniment. The soprano solo singer then sings "dona tibi pacem” (give him rest) in a melodious and probing theme. In Part 2 ("Battle of Pharsalus”) trumpets and trombones resound alternately in a stately Roman fanfare, producing a stereophonic effect. This develops into a martial theme in which Caesar's impressive army goes to battle against the army of rival Pompey. While the theme of Caesar's army fades away, Pompey's theme emerges as a naive dance in six-eight time. His army is definitely in the majority and it believes it can easily defeat the enemy. Suddenly trumpets and trombones clash on two sides of the orchestra: Caesar's army advances and attacks. A fierce battle ensues in which the two themes are played alternately as well as simultaneously. Thanks to his shrewd battle tactics, Caesar manages to win this legendary battle after all: his theme resounds ever louder in trumpets and horns until everything dies out and changes into a kind of reconciliation between the soldiers of the two armies. The melancholy "dona tibi pacem” from part 1 now serves as a reconciliation theme. Caesar is now the sole ruler of the New Roman Empire, which would be destined to leave its mark on our Western civilisation to this day. The third part is a sparkling succession of dance music ("Dance”) with many Greek and Roman elements in which Caesar's victory is praised and celebrated. It is common knowledge that the culture (arts, gods, etc.) of the Romans drew heavily on Greek culture. I have therefore used an authentic Greek theme (the Seikolos song) several times in this part (bar 17 in the euphonium, bar 60 in the base section, bar 68 in the soprano saxophone) to suggest the music of that era and to evoke the right atmosphere. After a gradual increase in tempo in the entire orchestra, the opening melody gloriously resounds once more, surrounded by virtuoso dance music. The work ends with bombastic brass fanfares in which Caesar's theme triumphs once more. Note for the Conductor: The Armenian duduk and the monochord that are used in the introduction give a special tone to the music, but could be substituted (soprano saxophone instead of the duduk) or left out (monochord). The soprano solo is also doubled within the orchestra and could therefore also be left out if necessary, although it does provide the work with an extra dimension. The male voices in the introduction and the finale could possibly be replaced with a synthesizer with choral setting. As a visual and acoustic element in part 2, the trumpets, the e-flat cornet, the small drum and trombones can be stood up and placed at two sides of the orchestra (bar 80). Seen from the point of view of the conductor, put the trumpets, the e-flat cornet and the small drum in the left section and the trombones in the right section of the orchestra. This also helps to create a visual contrast between the two themes of the second part. The players can be seated again at bar 97 or bar 121. The soprano soloist can be placed in or in front of the orchestra, depending on what gives the best result. For the conclusion of the work the soprano solo can be sung from afar (from the wings) to create additional atmosphere.

No.	Track title	Duration	Sound sample
1	Meditation	3:50
2	Battle of Pharsalus, The	5:15
3	Dance	5:55

Sample sheet music	click here
Sample score *	click here
Sound sample *
Video sample *
Listen to this in the Musicainfo Radio *	click here
Available	yes

Programme notes *: #fat#The River Rubicon and the historical significance of its crossing by Julius Caesar#fatout# The Rubicon is a small river in northern Italy that entered history with the famous crossing by Julius Caesar in 49 BC. This decisive moment marked the beginning of the civil war against Pompey and the Roman Republic. The expression "crossing the Rubicon" has since become synonymous with an irreversible act that has far-reaching consequences. The Rubicon was a small river in the Emilia-Romagna region that flows into the Adriatic Sea. In ancient Rome, the Rubicon marked the border between the province of Gallia Cisalpina, administered by Caesar, and Italy proper, which was directly under the control of the Roman Senate. The exact location of the Rubicon cannot be determined with certainty today, as there are several small rivers in the region that could be considered. The Rubicon played an important role as a military border. Roman law prohibited a general from crossing this border with his army, to prevent a general from using his military power against Rome itself. This law was designed to ensure the stability of the Republic and the power of the Senate. Julius Caesar and the Civil War Julius Caesar was a successful general and politician who had gained great fame and wealth through his conquests in Gaul. His political opponents in Rome, including Pompey and the Optimates in the Senate, feared Caesar's growing power and influence. They urged him to dismiss his army and return to Rome to run for election as a private citizen. Caesar saw this as a threat to his security and political ambitions. In January 49 BC, Julius Caesar decided to cross the Rubicon with the famous XIII Legion. This act represented an open break with the Senate and was tantamount to a declaration of war. According to historical accounts, including those of Suetonius and Plutarch, Caesar is said to have said upon crossing the Rubicon, "Alea iacta est" - "The die is cast." The crossing of the Rubicon sparked a civil war that ultimately led to the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Caesar marched to Rome, forced Pompey and his followers to flee, and defeated them in a series of battles. The civil war ended with Caesar's victory and his appointment as dictator for life, which significantly weakened the power of the Senate. The crossing of the Rubicon and the civil war that followed marked the end of the Roman Republic and the transition to autocratic rule. Caesar's victory led to the consolidation of power in the hands of a single person, which was later institutionalized by his heir, Augustus (Octavian). The expression "crossing the Rubicon" still stands today for making a momentous decision that has irreversible consequences. It symbolizes the courage and determination to transcend existing boundaries and take a new, uncertain path. The crossing of the Rubicon by Julius Caesar was a decisive moment in Roman history that ushered in far-reaching political and social changes. This act symbolizes a courageous decision with far-reaching consequences and remains a significant historical event that shapes the shifts in power in ancient Rome and the transition from republic to empire. Quelle/Source: musicainfo.net (KI) Information: Beriato Music Publishing Wikipedia: Rubikon Wikipedia: Julius Caesar Tags: Ancient Cultures Rivers and lakes Wars and battles

	Format
	Rubicon (concert/wind band), full score and parts
	Rubicon (concert/wind band), full score
	In the Picture: Bert Appermont #3, audio CD

To order this item please log in (click here).

* Fields with a star are only visible for club members after registration.

In order to see the demo scores you need Adobe Reader, which you can download free. Just click on the following link.

In order to listen to the sound samples you need an MP3 player, which you can download free, for example: