Description

 
The Forest of Arden was written as a wind band piece in 1987 as a result of a commission by the Solihull Youth Wind Band.  It was George Lloyd's first and only major work for wind band.
Instead of two or three themes, The Forest of Arden contains an abundance of ideas which can be described in two groups.  The first group contains the opening rhythmic motif, quickly developed into a short rising quaver passage in the woodwinds, and later a chromatic 'ostinato' bass - only 8 bars at this stage but later expanded.
The second group is broad and expansive, initially based on intervals of rising fifths introduced by euphoniums and basses, and immediately echoed by horns.  Low brass and winds expand the theme into rising sixths and octaves.  There is a hint of development, but this is arrested as the music moves to a piu tranquillo section introduced by the solo horn which further develops the rising sixth themes.  There follows a true development of the opening material, starting with the ostinato bass and gradually passing through different tonal centres until the rising fifths of the second theme group are heralded - 'fortissimo' and 'poco piu largamente' shortly before the end.
 
The stucture is almost Wagnerian (albeit on a much smaller scale) with themes being used as leifmotifs, but this is music which, even within the space of ten minutes, is conceived on a grand-design.
 

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