Set Sail

Set Sail, as the title suggests, has a nautical theme. It depicts a ship leaving the beach on a far away island. The major key throughout alludes to a calm and pleasant ocean, on a sunny day. The initial theme is heard on the flute, which was chosen for it’s gentle and peaceful tone. The harp and string section provides a delicate, yet rich accompaniment, with occasional broken chords to mimic waves in the ocean. This idea is continued in the jaunty oboe and clarinet phrases that follow.

The second theme has a similar lyrical quality to the first, but the focus shifts to the brass section. The solo horn gives a noble character to the music. The rest of the orchestra then joins in to thicken the texture, as the ship weighs anchor and begins to sail. After the excitement of the departure, the music fades, and the sound of a solo harp reflects the calm waters. Another lyrical theme follows, this time unusually played by a solo viola. In the latter sections of the piece, the initial theme is heard again, leading to a great swell as the island disappears from view. Finally, there is a subdued return of the brass section, as the ship heads off towards the horizon.

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