Defender (Brass Quintet & Percussion), Dr. Daniel Thrower

Composed by Dr. Daniel Thrower. Duration: 4:45. Composed for the observance of the Ukrainian national holiday "Defender Day," commissioned by the United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Five Star Brass, and premiered on 14 October 2021. The sentiments behind Defender Day in the Ukraine are akin to the somberness of America’s Memorial Day mingled with the heroics of Veterans Day. What resulted in the composition simply titled “Defender” captures both patriotic affects well. Woven into the original musical content is a pre-existing work that Ukrainians would readily recognize: their national anthem.