The Coast
Since the rain has stopped, solo trombone and tuba herald a simple promenade down the boardwalk. The theme is taken up by a “band” (rhythm section + trumpets and trombones), followed by several other instrumental groupings, adding more activity with each new one. Things are festive! A slowing of the tempo, with full brass and strings, heralds the move to the “Beach.”
The form of this section is a simple splicing together of several iterations of the melody introduced by the trombone, each growing in complexity, activity, and volume. A careful look shows that that melody is, in fact, an extension of the string motif from the “Storm,” which, in turn, owes a lot to the opening harp motif. In fact, the entire composition uses very few motivic pieces, with variation provided by rhythm, tempo, and instrumentation. The ending is very much reflective of the original thematic feel from the opening section, especially the harp accompaniment. It leads to the sudden burst of activity from the strings, heralding the entrance of the fourth section, “Beach.”
Note: this excerpt starts and ends abruptly, and is, of course, subject to change!
Jeffrey L. Jones, Composer 