March of the Emus

March of the Emus was composed in 2024.

 

Duration: c. 3 minutes.

Approximate Grade: 2/2.5

March of the Emus was takes stylistic inspiration from a traditional march. The military style reflects the concept of the piece - the Great Emu War, which was a military operation that took place across Western Australia in 1932.

In 1932, the Australian government gave farmland to discharged veterans to produce crops. However, they encountered a problem - large populations of migrating emus, who discovered that this farmland made for a good habitat. After having fences broken and crops ravaged, the farmers turned to the government for help.

Soldiers were deployed, and after multiple unsuccessful attempts to cull the population, the Australian Government decided to remove the military assistance. The emus reigned victorious and the soldiers retreated, barely having made a dent in the growing emu population. ​

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The oboe and bassoon parts of this work are optional, as they are covered by other instruments in the ensemble.

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Performances:

t.b.c​

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Price: $75