The Wars of The Roses (Fantasia on a Theme by Walter Frye arr. Stephen Chin) – String Orchestra

Description

The Wars of the Roses was fought between two rival branches of English Royalty, Lancaster and York, roughly between 1455 and 1487. After many ferocious and bloody battles, the two clans were finally where united when Henry Tudor from the house of Lancaster (later to be Henry VII) married Elizabeth York. Amidst all of this upheaval, a composer named Walter Frye was busy writing exquisite church and secular music. This Fantasia is based on Frye’s song “Alas, Alas, Alas is my Chief Song” which can be assumed to be his comment on the despair of war. This is contrasted with a number of highly spirited sections that clearly impart the storms of  battle. Both your orchestra and audience will appreciate the sense of antiquity within a more contemporary setting.

Grade 3