In The Land of the Lochrians
Barry E. Kopetz

In The Land of the Lochrians is music written for the mystical kingdom of Lochria. The people of Lochria are a small, gentle folk, and their diligent avoidance of the outside world is second only to their penchant for legends and folk-lore. Quick to laugh and long on kindness, they delight in dwelling within their quaint land on the far side of the immense Ginger Mountains. Their love of tales of old and good food is reknown among the people of the Lochrian kingdom, and their favorite pastimes include listening to music from the enchanting muse “Windblow.”

The music is meant to display dream images. While the melody is relatively short and simple, it is rarely played at a steady tempo. The conductor should feel free to modify the tempo to suit the mood of the moment, and the key factor in achieving the musical intent of the piece is to create a dreamy, musical mood for the audience. The music should be performed with as much clarity of line as possible, and all of the accompanying lines should be balanced equally.

The use of the tri-tone (Bb vs. E natural) is most important in establishing the “dream-like” mood, and the conductor should not emphasize the interval through an increase in volume when it is played. Its appearance is very natural within the flow of both the melodic line and the accompaniment, and the tri-tone will actually begin to sound pleasant over the course of the piece. It is important to stress the fact to the students that dissonance is relative to the context within which it occurs.

Finally, In The Land of the Lochrians is meant to spur the imagination of those who perform the music. It is a tribute to the spontaneity of young musicians everywhere and to their creative abilities.