This composition consists of three sound pictures. When writing this work Oliver Waespi did not have any concrete image such as a scenery or a specific form in mind, but rather some typical visual movements. Hence the successive titles of the different parts: Procession, Dialogue and Waves. Numerous associations mutually link those parts as far as motifs and harmony are concerned. The motif of the ascending and descending fourth plays an important role in many a theme. There are many fourth chords by means of which Waespi tries to put a harmonic and unifying stamp on the compostition as a whole. Moreover there are similar or identical, though varied, motifs in the successive parts.
The first part, Cortège (Procession), describes the dignified majestic procession by means of simple precise rhythms. At first the music is scarcely audible, as if coming from a distance; it gradually comes nearer until it reaches its climax in large chords, before fading away again. At each quarter note one could imagine a step. The second part, Dialogue, consists of broad outlines of dialogues between the different orchestral groups. Some instruments are asking questions, others are giving answers. After a rather sad passage, the music turns into a climax followed by a second passage that brings comfort and leads to a quiet ending. In the third part, there is a sudden movement coming up in the shape of waves. The principle of the wave, successively swelling and decreasing, dominates the entire musical structure of this part, even in the separate motifs.
As far as the instrumentation is concerned there are the following notes: in the brass band version Oliver Waespi has a definite (orchestral) brass band strength in mind. If some parts (e.g. euphonium and flugelhorn) are played by several musicians, the conductor should feel free either to double or to thin those parts, providing the musical contents are not damaged. The same goes for the fanfare band in which the conductor can feel even more free as to the band’s orchestral strenght. Anyway, a convincing overall sound is determining and that is to be realised by any kind of wind band.
