Alfred Reed

Fifth Symphony

This work was commissioned by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo in celebration of its 70th anniversary in 1994. However, in view of the invitation by WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) for its Wind Orchestra to perform at the 7th annual convention of this association, to be held in Hamamatsu, Japan, in the summer of 1995, it was decided to premiere the music at that time instead of the anniversary year itself. The symphony is in three movements, with an introduction marked 'Moderately and sustained' leading to the first movement proper, a driving 'Allegro assai' whose main thematic material is first heard in the timpani and mallet percussion. The second movement, from which the symphony drives its sub-title, is an extended treatment of one of the oldest and most beloved Japanese folk songs 'Sakura' ('Cherry Blossoms'), a long-breathed elegiac melody taken as the basis for a free variation development through all the individual sections of the orchestra. The third movement is a brilliant rondo form (Allegro Molto, con fuoco) in which some elements of the preceding two movements are incorporated to bring the entire work to a breath-taking conclusion in a final burst of virtuoso performance from every instrument in the ensemble. The 'Fifth Symphony (Sakura)' was first performed on July 26th 1995, by the Senzoku Gakuen Symphonic Wind Orchestra under the direction of the composer, at the 7th WASBE Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.