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You know the feeling. It’s the one that happens when you watch the Uruks from Lord of the Rings approach Helm’s Deep, the Rohirim watching from the keep. Or when the super hero finally comes face to face with the villain for the long-awaited duel. It’s an adrenalin cocktail straining at the suddenly weak bonds of your stomach muscles.

For this song, I wanted the opening to have that same feel, a bit traditional I suppose, of war trumpets announcing the commencement of battle. Two magical forces facing each other across a mystical battlefield, the ethics in their guts warring between “I’m going to take you down!” and “How did it come to this?”

After the fanfare of the opening, I imagine army movement. Whether it’s a large army of magical creatures and wizards, or simply a few role-playing game competitors against the current boss, the opposing sides are bent forward, committed to the destruction of the opponent. Minor attacks and spells are thrown at first. The opposition’s mettle is tested. What’s in their arsenal of tricks?

Then, as neither side is showing any signs of backing down, the real attacks begin in earnest. Casualties appear. It’s both awe-inspiring and horrifying. A mix of hope and dread holding your muscles in the uncomfortable straight-jacket of suspense. Then, “Hooray!” your hero manages to successfully strike your villain with an epic blow. Somehow you can finally move, you lean forward willing the boss to fall. He doesn’t. He comes back with an equally debilitating blow. Who will win?

As the battle becomes hectic and ugly, a heart-pounding fervor takes over the hero. There’s no turning back now. It’s a fight to the death.

At last, it’s over. But even an epic win is unsettling, like drinking a cold drink too fast, bringing refreshment and a cramp to your stomach and the roof of your mouth. How could taking down the villain, or the opposing army be so necessary and yet still a bit bittersweet. It shouldn’t have come to this. But it did.

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Key and Mode: A Major A Aeolian mode (for a sharp haunting feel)

Time: 6/8 (for a rolling feel with emphasis on beats 1 and 3)

Level: Late Intermediate/Early Advanced (primary difficulty is key, chords, and octave movement)

Simplification Tips: When there are octave chords, play the upper note on Treble Clef and the lower note on Bass Clef. When chords move up by octaves (middle, high, double high, etc.) simply play them all in the same spot.

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A COMPOSER’S COMMENTARY

There’s always this uncertainty, when composing music. I always wonder if I’m repeating a similar theme from a different song or reusing the same old tools. Does it sound too much the same? Am I a one note composer?

Then, I’m reminded that there are no unique elements. Arpeggios, chords, octaves, dissonances, trills, rhythms, etc.: they are all musical tools used to tell a musical story. If they tell the story I feel in my heart, then I have to let the worries go. Nearly every cookie recipe has more similarities than differences. What makes them different is the small changes: texture, flavor, and additives. But the core recipe is still the same: flour, eggs, sugar, and raising agents.

If you spend too much time worrying about what tools you’re using, as a composer, you’ll lose the vision of your song and its message. It isn’t new or novel elements that makes a song powerful. It is how you use the elements you have; how you uniquely bring them together to accomplish the sound you want. That’s what an artist does.