North Bridge Portrait

North Bridge Portrait by Stephen Bulla was commissioned by the Concord Band in 1999 and is based on authentic musical themes of the American Revolutionary period. “A slow and ominously quiet introductory section leads to a brisk sea chantey-like tune, depicting the busy lifestyle of the Colonists. The music then slows and an expressive setting of William Billings’ song ‘America’ is developed and incorporated into the musical tapestry as a tribute to the New England composer’s work. The music concludes with a dramatic recreation of the famous first shot that led the country to war (this time fired by the percussion section), along with a rousing setting of ‘Washington’s March’, a popular song of that day.” (Source: Stephen Bulla)