Denis Colwell, Conductor and Music Director of the River City Brass Band suggested I might compose a concert-opener/fanfare for the band. As I knew there was to be a new recording project with the band in 2002 (Polished Brass), I thought it might be a good idea to complete this in time for inclusion, and I managed to finish it just in time for the final rehearsal before the recording.

For me, the piece always had a sort of Imperial Roman quality to it - maybe just because of the opening couple of measures, with its well-defined tonality and heavy instrumentation. It just feels to me like something that could have been played during "Spartacus" or "Gladiator" or something along those lines.

I chuckle every time I hear the ending of the piece. The final long note chord and its voicing is just about exactly the same as John William's ending to the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" theme. John Williams has been my idol since I first learned he wrote the theme to "Star Wars," so I suppose whatever music I write will always be influenced by his. Imitation, after all, is the sincerest form of flattery.

• Fanfare and Theme is published by Drew Fennell Publishing.
  Available for Brass Band, Wind Band and Orchestra.

• View the full conductor's score of Fanfare and Theme [wind band version]*.

• Hear Fanfare and Theme in a live performance (complete) by the Hofstra University Symphonic Band, Dr. Peter Boonshaft, Music Director (Mindy Dragovich, Guest Conductor) [wind band version]*.

• Hear a short sample of Fanfare and Theme by the River City Brass Band, Denis Colwell, Music Director, from the compact disc recording Polished Brass [brass band version]*.