"Beginning the Quest" uses the large range of a quartet of French horns to provide the proudly heroic sound befitting an epic journey. Different sections of the piece highlight the various challenges that a fledgling adventurer faces when embarking on a massive quest, yet the same thematic material continues to appear since the same unflagging spirit rises to overcome each situation. The end of the piece is grandiose but not the end of the expedition; this has merely been enough to establish our protagonist as a hero as they continue their journey. Lasting a little over three and a half minutes (~3:40 min.), "Beginning the Quest" is adventurously upbeat despite its minor key and is highly tonal with singing melodies. While designed for four players, the parts can be doubled for a larger group of performers to enjoy. It is appropriate for a wide variety of contexts, including competitions and recitals.