Symphonic Metamorphosis was commissioned by the Sierra Vista High School Symphonic Band, Las Vegas (NV). The composer was given free hand to choose the style of the new commission and originally planned to use the opportunity to fulfil a long-held ambition to write a set of variations on the famous chorale from Saint-Saëns' Third Symphony (“Organ”); in beginning work he was so moved by the work's highlights that he decided to include more than just the chorale melody. Therefore, while Symphonic Metamorphosis starts out as an original set of variations for concert band, it is gradually subsumed by other elements in the symphony (particularly the slow movement), and the piece closes with a finale that has been reorganized and rescored from the majestic closing pages of the symphony.

Publisher: Anglo Music Press
Series: Anglo Music Concert Band
Band Grade: 4
Composer(s): Philip Sparke