picc, 2fl, ob, 3cl, bass cl, bsn, 2alto sax, ten sax, bar sax, 3trpt, 2hn, bar hn, 3tbn, euph, tba, dbass, 5perc (glock, xylo, clash cym, bass dr, snare dr), 4timp (CGFDflat)

This short piece was commissioned in 2010 by Victor Ho, Man-yiu, Musical Director of the South Hong Kong Island Youth Concert Band.

The title, ‘The Victor’s Palm’, is taken from a line by the Roman poet Horace (Epistles, I).

According to Charles Rollins, in ancient time, “acclamations of spectators in honour of the victors, were only a prelude to the rewards designed them. These rewards were different wreaths of wild olive, pine, parsley, or laurel, according to the different places where the games were celebrated. Those crowns were always attended with branches of palm, that the victors carried in their right hand.”

The piece is a straightforward A B A structure – the more restrained central section contrasts with the exuberant and celebratory outer sections.