The Final Gauntlet

for Wind Band (Grade 5) I'm an avid video gamer, and have been ever since I was a kid. In fact, Super Mario Galaxy was the Mario game that got me into music and video gaming in the first place, and the orchestral soundtrack of that game blew me away as well as how much it contributed to the charm of this grand Mario adventure. One thing I've always enjoyed in any video game is the final road that leads to the final boss. Fighting all of the enemies, overcoming obstacles, and going through tests that culminate all of the skills you've gained all across the adventure was always one of my favorite things ever about video gaming. This piece is just that. The music takes the listener through that tough last quest with the final boss showing their face at the end of the road. A grand fight ensues, with the boss going through stages of attacks but the main character triumphs as the music moves to a much broader section. The ending is a bold testament to all that the main character has accomplished, with the glorious feeling after besting the villain of the game washing over you, the player, as the credits roll...