Music

Mark Boehnlein

"The Golden General"

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Composed and performed by Mark Boehnlein

This piece is for Lauralanthalasa, the young and innocent elfmaid turned General. The Golden General to be more precise. This piece will take you through many stages of her trying life : from rejection in the glade, to the victory at Kalaman. Each of the first three books are represented in the song.

We begin in the glade in Qualinost where Laurana has brought the companions to rest. Tanis slips away by the stream and Laurana later follows. The harp, and soft strings convey the beauty of the glade and of Laurana herself. There are two themes present in the music.. the innocent elfmaid, and the Golden General. The first theme arises early in the music, portrayed by the high harp. Here, she throws her arms around Tanis. "Tanthalas Quisif nan-Pah !" As the low harp begins the base-line, Tanis rejects her. He hands her the ring of golden ivy leaves, she throws it into the forest (by Tas's feet) and begins to sob.

The music carries on with her yearning for her love, her dealing with her collapsing world. She is still in her innocence, but begins the process of growing up and becoming her own woman. The Golden General theme is heard for the first time, again portrayed by the high harp. Just when she believes she has some control in her life, her world again comes crashing down as the Red Dragon Inn comes crashing down around Tanis.

This event is marked by the low "boom" and castinets. Laurana throws herself at the rubble and screams for her love. Her face streaked with blood, dirt and tears, she desperately tries to move the rubble herself. To no avail. Sturm and Elistan plead with her to realize "the living need you." As she hears them for the first time, and she hears Flints cries for Tas, she realizes that they are correct and she must continue, as Tanis would do. The low horn signals her realization and the high horns bring in her resolve as the Golden General she would become. She has matured more.

At the battle for the High Clerist Tower she again takes another step. Atop the battlements, she shows General Bakaris the code of honor of the elves as she sinks an arrow into his swordarm. As the battle ensues the next day, she takes control. Sturm gives her command as he prepares for his destiny. Take notice the flute, it will play Sturm's theme from "Sturm's Fall". As the theme ends, the rolling Timpani brings Laurana to the battlements next to her dead friend. If you'll remember the popular picture of Laurana standing over Sturm with the dragonlance in her hand, her hair blowing in the chill wind, this is the vision you should hold as this moment of the music is played.

Now, she has become the Golden General as the low horn and tubular bells announces her position. She is now in command of the battle over Kalaman. The dragons fill the skies, Tas and Flint hang on for dear life on the back of their dragon Fireflash, and the armies meet on the field of battle. Blue, Red, Silver, and Gold dragons light up the sky with their breath weapons. The Dragons of Whitestone and the Knights of Solamnia, led by the Golden General Lauralanthalasa of Qualinesti, are victorious over the Dragonarmies this day.

The music moves right into the triumphant enter through the gates of Kalaman. The Golden General herself leads the parade into the city streets, followed by a strange pair, an elflord, the knights and the footmen. When the strings take off on their own melody, a flight of dragons crosses the sky bringing rounds of cheers from the gathered peoples. The procession ends as the speeches begin, ending with Laurana's and the people of Kalaman enjoy their one day of peace, given to them by the courage and bravery of the Golden General.

- Mark Boehnlein

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Copyright Info
All music in this section is original and © 2000 Mark Boehnlein. All Rights Reserved. You may download this music for your personal, non-commercial use only.

Player Notes
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