Atlas Falls for Brass Band
Atlas Falls – Dale Vail
Composed: 2020
Commissioned by: Flixton Brass Band
Format: Digital Download (PDF)
Instrumentation: British-Style Brass Band
Difficulty: 1st Section & Above (A–B Grade)
Major Concert/Contest Work
Atlas Falls is a dramatic and emotionally charged three-movement work for brass band, exploring the myth of the Titan Atlas and his eternal burden. Commissioned by the Flixton Brass Band in 2020, the piece offers a compelling blend of mythological storytelling, musical challenge, and thematic depth—ideal for contest use or as a concert centrepiece.
I. Titans of Tartarus
The opening movement portrays the sheer power and endurance of Atlas, sentenced to hold the world aloft for eternity. Bold motifs and heavy rhythms reflect the weight of his burden, while lighter passages depict the quiet, often oblivious presence of humankind living on the world he supports.
II. Gaia
A deeply expressive and lyrical movement that explores Atlas’s solitude. In his isolation, he is visited by Gaia—Mother Earth—who offers a fleeting moment of comfort and gratitude. The music swells with warmth and tenderness before fading once more into loneliness. This movement features rich harmonies, delicate textures, and lyrical solos.
III. The Heavens Collapse
In the final movement, Atlas faces his greatest trial. Humanity grows careless and increasingly destructive, amplifying the weight upon his shoulders. What begins as a battle of endurance becomes a desperate struggle. For a moment, it seems there may be reconciliation and hope—but ultimately, the burden becomes too great. Atlas falls, and the heavens collapse with him.
Included in your purchase:
Full Score (PDF)
Complete Set of Parts (PDF)
Transposed Parts for Horns in F (optional)
Transposed Parts for Low Brass in C (Bass Clef) (optional)
A striking and evocative addition to the advanced brass band repertoire, Atlas Falls challenges performers with its intensity, emotion, and scope—leaving a lasting impression on audiences and players alike.
Atlas Falls – Dale Vail
Composed: 2020
Commissioned by: Flixton Brass Band
Format: Digital Download (PDF)
Instrumentation: British-Style Brass Band
Difficulty: 1st Section & Above (A–B Grade)
Major Concert/Contest Work
Atlas Falls is a dramatic and emotionally charged three-movement work for brass band, exploring the myth of the Titan Atlas and his eternal burden. Commissioned by the Flixton Brass Band in 2020, the piece offers a compelling blend of mythological storytelling, musical challenge, and thematic depth—ideal for contest use or as a concert centrepiece.
I. Titans of Tartarus
The opening movement portrays the sheer power and endurance of Atlas, sentenced to hold the world aloft for eternity. Bold motifs and heavy rhythms reflect the weight of his burden, while lighter passages depict the quiet, often oblivious presence of humankind living on the world he supports.
II. Gaia
A deeply expressive and lyrical movement that explores Atlas’s solitude. In his isolation, he is visited by Gaia—Mother Earth—who offers a fleeting moment of comfort and gratitude. The music swells with warmth and tenderness before fading once more into loneliness. This movement features rich harmonies, delicate textures, and lyrical solos.
III. The Heavens Collapse
In the final movement, Atlas faces his greatest trial. Humanity grows careless and increasingly destructive, amplifying the weight upon his shoulders. What begins as a battle of endurance becomes a desperate struggle. For a moment, it seems there may be reconciliation and hope—but ultimately, the burden becomes too great. Atlas falls, and the heavens collapse with him.
Included in your purchase:
Full Score (PDF)
Complete Set of Parts (PDF)
Transposed Parts for Horns in F (optional)
Transposed Parts for Low Brass in C (Bass Clef) (optional)
A striking and evocative addition to the advanced brass band repertoire, Atlas Falls challenges performers with its intensity, emotion, and scope—leaving a lasting impression on audiences and players alike.
Atlas Falls – Dale Vail
Composed: 2020
Commissioned by: Flixton Brass Band
Format: Digital Download (PDF)
Instrumentation: British-Style Brass Band
Difficulty: 1st Section & Above (A–B Grade)
Major Concert/Contest Work
Atlas Falls is a dramatic and emotionally charged three-movement work for brass band, exploring the myth of the Titan Atlas and his eternal burden. Commissioned by the Flixton Brass Band in 2020, the piece offers a compelling blend of mythological storytelling, musical challenge, and thematic depth—ideal for contest use or as a concert centrepiece.
I. Titans of Tartarus
The opening movement portrays the sheer power and endurance of Atlas, sentenced to hold the world aloft for eternity. Bold motifs and heavy rhythms reflect the weight of his burden, while lighter passages depict the quiet, often oblivious presence of humankind living on the world he supports.
II. Gaia
A deeply expressive and lyrical movement that explores Atlas’s solitude. In his isolation, he is visited by Gaia—Mother Earth—who offers a fleeting moment of comfort and gratitude. The music swells with warmth and tenderness before fading once more into loneliness. This movement features rich harmonies, delicate textures, and lyrical solos.
III. The Heavens Collapse
In the final movement, Atlas faces his greatest trial. Humanity grows careless and increasingly destructive, amplifying the weight upon his shoulders. What begins as a battle of endurance becomes a desperate struggle. For a moment, it seems there may be reconciliation and hope—but ultimately, the burden becomes too great. Atlas falls, and the heavens collapse with him.
Included in your purchase:
Full Score (PDF)
Complete Set of Parts (PDF)
Transposed Parts for Horns in F (optional)
Transposed Parts for Low Brass in C (Bass Clef) (optional)
A striking and evocative addition to the advanced brass band repertoire, Atlas Falls challenges performers with its intensity, emotion, and scope—leaving a lasting impression on audiences and players alike.