Julius Caesar Musical Analysis
1.In Act Two Scene One, the group of people who have decided to assassinate
Caesar meet up with Brutus to convince him to join their group, the conspiracy, one
more time. During this scene, I would play Wine Dark Sea (Symphony for Band): I.
Hubris, by the 2017 North Texas Wind Symphony (John Mackey). This movement of
the song is a great portrayal of the scene because Cassius, the leader of the conspiracy,
along with the rest of the conspirators are attempting to persuade Brutus, the
protagonist, to join them in the plot to kill Brutus best friend, Julius Caesar. The
aspects of the music differ greatly, magnificently portraying the energy of the
scene. The music has changes in dynamics, along with solos and solis, or groups
of performers playing as an ensemble, that act as the voices of the conspirators that
all jump in, agreeing with Cassius, to further persuade Brutus. This piece would
begin to play during the stage direction that states, Enter the conspirators:
CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS, and TREBONIUS (2.1.87sd).
During the lines following this stage direction there are larger, one person said lines
followed by smaller lines that are vaguely announced by the other conspirators.
Similarly, in the movement, there are a few melodious sections played mainly by
one instrument group at a louder dynamic, followed by a counter melody played by
the entire band.
2.In Act Two Scene Two, a series of bad omens appear throughout the setting of the
play and even in Caesar s wife s dream. Calpurnia, Caesar s wife, has a horrible
dream showing her an image of her husband s statue with one hundred wounds
spewing blood as the people of Rome wash their hands in his blood (2.2.80 87). A
series of other bad omens occurred, including a lion walking in the capitol, an owl
out in the daytime, and the dead rising from their graves. During this scene, I would
play Foundry, performed by the 2017 North Texas Wind Symphony (John Mackey).
During this piece, the low and middle bass sections have the main foundational
rhythms while the upper woodwinds and brass have the main melody, and the
percussion section is beating on metal objects like they re in a factory. The overall
feeling of this piece is hectic, and loud;