March of the Savage Planet (Band Gr. 5)

Inspired by the Viltrumites from Robert Kirkman’s Invincible comic series, March of the Savage Planet imagines a military march for the most brutal and ruthless civilization in the universe.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Diamond Band Series
Level: 5 | Duration: 5:00

Instrumentation
Transposed Score (11"x17" spiral bound)

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
Contrabassoon (optional)
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contralto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional)
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
B-flat Euphonium T.C.
Tuba

Piano

Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Tam-Tam, Xylophone, Tam-Tam
Percussion 2: Snare Drum, Impact Drum
Percussion 3: Concert Bass Drum, Triangle
Percussion 4: Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Floor Tom

Program Notes
Inspired by the Viltrumites from Robert Kirkman’s Invincible comic series, March of the Savage Planet imagines a military march for the most brutal and ruthless civilization in the universe. The structure of this march very vaguely follows a traditional military march structure of 1st and 2nd strains, trio, etc. Instead of following the form precisely, loud impacting interruptions echo from a different form of battery percussion and depict the brutality of the Viltrumite race.

Kirkman’s comic series features brutal depictions of violence, but also depicts the value of the human spirit and the importance of close relationships during traumatic moments. I’m reminded of the author Steven King’s words that have long informed my musical choices: “you can’t have horror without the heart”.