March deLion

Symphonic version

CD cover art I plagiarized my own work for this piece. It started out in life as a movement from my electro-acoustic Epiphany Suite. Only much later did I decide to orchestrate it for symphony orchestra as a stand-alone work.

The orchestration of this happy little fluff piece was inspired by the absolutely delightful Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra’s annual 4th of July concert in Delaware in the summer of 2021. This piece is not and never was intended to be particularly deep or profound—just a light pop-type work designed for maximum general audience appeal.

It is my sincere and honest desire with this piece just to make someone’s day a little bit brighter and bring out a smile.

The title and inspiration for this piece are derived from multiple source ideas:

The composition was begun during my junior year of college at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH—hence: “deL...”
It was completed later, during a college break in Marion, OH (my hometown)—hence: “...ion”
The inspiration for this piece within the Epiphany Suite was primarily the journey of Jesus into Jerusalem, shortly before his death. It was intended to kind of depict the rather carnival-like atmosphere that attended that event, as the “Lion of Judah” made his royal and “trumphal entry”—now celebrated as Palm Sunday by most Christians.
My mother always loved Sousa marches especially, so I wanted to write something that I knew she would enjoy especially.

This work was composed/scored originally on paper (in the “Dark Ages”). It was later transcribed to Finale, and then rendered using the EastWest Quantum Leap Symphony Orchestra sound library.

The music of Charles O. Beck

March deLion

Symphonic version