Abram's Pursuit David R. Holsinger

Pursuit, indeed! This rampaging work is a careening chase that starts with a bang and doesn't let up until the final notes! Inspired by the biblical story from Genesis, Holsinger has created a furious up-tempo composition marked with vivid accents, flurrying woodwind and keyboard percussion writing, and incessant percussion that rhythmically drives the piece. Extremely exciting and vibrant stuff for mature bands!

In the fourteenth chapter of Genesis there is a story of a rebellion led by Chedorlaomer, the King of Elam. Chedorlaomer and three other Kings joined together to ravage and conquer everything that lay in their path. They were met in battle at the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea) by an army mustered from the forces of the King of Sodom, the King of Gommorrah (pre-destruction days, of course . . .), the King of Admah, the King of Zebolim, and the King of Bela. Unfortunately this opposition army was not a match for Chedorlaomer and each of these city kingdoms, including Sodom and Gomorrah, were overrun. Chedorlaomer's forces, as was the custom, pillaged and fled with all the goods and provisions of the cities. Unfortunately for Chedorlaomer, his men also kidnapped Lot, Abram's brother's son. This of course, is the same Abram who later became Abraham, Father of the Jewish Nation, and a very close friend of GOD. (In retrospect, this was probably Chedorlaomer's "not-so-bright-decision-of-the-campaign"!) When Abram heard that Lot was taken captive, he armed three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his house and went in pursuit of the invaders. With this small contingent, he divided his forces against the kings, attacked, and routed Chedorlaomer's entire army, recovering Lot and his goods, as well as all the women and people who had been kidnapped during the conquest!!
This concert band piece has various meter and tempo changes and the tempo is equal to 176.