Emperata Overture

To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the composition that started it all, we present Claude T. Smith’s timeless classic masterfully arranged for orchestra! When the work was first performed in 1964, It was something completely different. Ensembles had not experienced the trademark 7/8 measures which became synonymous with the Smith name. This composition also includes one of his few fugatos. Excellent percussion writing and a combination of all themes come together in a direct modulation to C Major. Originally titled “Overture for Winds and Percussion,” the word “Emperata” has no meaning; it was just, as Claude put it, an “intriguing” word!