To Dream of Giants is a work of three main musical phases suggesting the idea of the listener entering a dream-like world where giants exist as a noble but fearsome race. (Any readers of Stephen Donaldson will know where I'm coming from!)

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The opening chorale in the woodwind and then brass is meant to sound as the beginnings of sleep. The introduction of the percussion and the rhythmic motif through section C indicate the transition from simple sleep to an awareness of entering a dream-like world of broad landscapes and epic proportion. Finally, in section F, we encounter our giants and the music from that point should become energetically tribal and heroic in nature throughout until the work’s conclusion.

 

Rehearsal note.

 

If the band director has an excess of percussionists, the 2 tom tom parts could easily be doubled for impact with varying types of low pitched drum. Directors are definitely encouraged to make sure there is a good anvil sound with other possibilities being metal pipe or break drum. Or both!