Descent Into Madness

"Descent Into Madness" explores the unraveling of a person’s mind using orchestral pieces by Berlioz, Camille Saint-Saëns, Tears for Fears, and Giuseppe Verdi. Designed for small to medium-sized ensembles, it creates a big, mature sound. Segment 1 begins with a percussion setup leading into Berlioz’s 4th movement of Symphonie Fantastique, featuring both small and full ensemble moments, followed by a percussion feature from Schubert’s "Der Erlkönig". Segment 2 shifts to a melancholic mood with Gary Jules' "Mad World" and low brass soloists. Segment 3 transitions with a percussion ostinato over the violin from Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, leading into chaos with a vocal sample and Verdi's "Dies Irae" alongside a dubstep breakdown of Danse Macabre. The show ends with an intense finale, capturing the chaos of madness.

• • "Symphonie Fantastique 4th Movement" by Hector Berlioz
  • "Der Erlkönig" by Franz Schubert
  • "Mad World" by Gary Jules (Tears for Fears)
  • "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saëns
  • "Dies Irae" by Giuseppe Verdi
    

Show Duration: 6:46

Tempo Range: 84, 96, 160, 168 BPM

Difficulty Levels:

• Brass: 3
• Woodwind: 3
  
• Battery: 3
• Front Ensemble: 3

Instrumentation: 

• Winds:
  
  • Flute
  • Clarinet
    
  • Alto Saxophone
  • Tenor Saxophone
    
  • Baritone Saxophone
  • Trumpet 1, 2
  • Mellophone
  • Trombone 1, 2
    
  • Baritone (Bass & Treble Clef)
  • Tuba
    
• Percussion:
  • Glockenspiel
  • Vibraphone 1, 2
    
  • Xylophone/Chimes (1 Player)
  • Marimba 1, 2
  • Synthesizer
    
  • Sampler
  • Percussion 1, 2
  • Snares
  • Tenors (5 or 6 Drums)
  • Bass Drums (4 or 5 Bass Drum part available upon request)