Concert Band Grade: 5

This remarkable piece captures the excitement, physical challenge, intensity and, ultimately, the thrill and sense of accomplishment a rider might experience during such a grueling and demanding physical trial as Le Tour de France. Both tonal and non-tonal compositional materials, some indeterminate and serial techniques, special percussion (a six-tom-tom cluster, heavy chains and four metal plates) along with traditional and non-traditional development procedures are used –impressing upon listeners, through sound, a sense and feel of competitive bicycling, from the point of view of the athletes themselves. In hopes of imbuing the music with the flavor of the various cultures coming together for this contest, the composition contains extant source material as well — including La Marsellaise, The Star-Spangled Banner and a brief reference to The Eyes of Texas.