The Witch and the Saint by Steven Reineke is a one movement symphonic band piece describing the lives of Helena and Sibylla, twin sisters born in Germany at the end of the 16th century.
The dark, threatening feel is broken suddenly by a melody portrayed by an oboe or flute solo as the bells join on after the new mood is established.
The eight-bar solo ends with the return of the ominous feel before the entire band is made to crescendo enormously.
The tempo and velocity of the piece dies down, and the slow melody repeats itself here, this time in a lower key and by the first flutes.
Instruments such as the tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, Euphonium and the French horn have numerous solos, so much of the attention is dispersed evenly.
Conductors favor this piece due to challenging chords, strange time signatures, but most importantly, the independence of instruments normally overshadowed.
Once her ability was discovered the community revered her and she was seen as a saint and sage by everyone and given the highest respect by even the wisest of men.
Helena continued her life as a saint and prophet and Sibylla learned to be a midwife and helped the people as best she could.
In her fear of the wrath of the villagers, and of the torment, Helena drank a poison and died in her sister’s arms.
Sibylla’s heart was shattered, and while still grieving the loss of the only one in the world she had ever loved, she buried her sister’s body.
The piece was an ordered composition for the Youth Wind Orchestra of Ellwangen (Germany) and it was a present for their 50th anniversary.