Castendo, Op. 89

Festive overture for Concert Band | Duration: 5’ | Level: Medium| Year: 2024 Program Note: Commissioned by the Banda Musical e Recreativa de Penalva do Castelo to mark its 200th anniversary (1825–2025), this work musically portrays key moments from the ensemble’s long history. The opening motif, based on the notes Bb–F–D–B, symbolically encodes the year of its founding, 1825. With bright orchestration reminiscent of Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture, it nods to the band’s own repertoire traditions. Sections of tension and reconciliation follow, representing times of division and unity, leading into a calm yet martial trio that alludes to the band’s historical connection with the Portuguese Legion. The finale brings all themes together in a grand, jubilant conclusion — a fitting tribute to two centuries of music, resilience, and community.