Stampede is a western, at once evoking the romanticized "wild west", while the much wilder, unpredictable reality of that era repeatedly interjects its presence.The music is a high-spirited celebration of the Calgary Stampede' s cultural amalgamation (from the cowboys and the agriculture and livestock industries they represent, to the First Nations, to the Young Canadians, and of course, the Stampede Band), and the unified spirit of all these groups in promoting their western values and heritage.It can loosely be thought of as Copland' s Billy the Kid meets John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine meets me in a dark alley. Written for the Calgary Stampede Showband, this work is meant for the large, symphonic band ensemble.