SIEGE (Jared McCunnie) - Darebin City Brass Preston Band conducted by Broden Ford

Live performance of 'SIEGE' (Jared McCunnie) by Darebin City Brass Preston Band, conducted by Broden Ford
Open A Grade Brass Australian National Band Championships 2023 in Newcastle
Video courtesy of the brilliant team at Brassbanned
SIEGE is written in response to the Sydney Siege events of 15th and 16th December 2014. A sole perpetrator held 18 victims hostage in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place as part of a 16-hour siege. Jared McCunnie's 'SIEGE' is an emotional response to the tension, unease and hurt caused by the event.
The opening section 'Day' captures the abrupt imposition of the sinister siege event upon an otherwise festive Sydney city morning. The response is chaotic and concerned, as Australia tries to interpret the situation unfolding within the building. The siege is seemingly unyielding, with even the frenzied escape of five hostages not easing the tension.
A crescendo of movement pushes the work into the haunting 'Night' section. The eerie quiet, coupled with the shimmering of Sydney's city lights only heightens the unease both within and beyond the cafe's walls. After more hostages escape, an alarming sense of foreboding surges over Martin Place. Two shotgun blasts from within the building instigates an armed police raid of the cafe. An explosion of 22 shots are fired, and the siege comes to an end. Four people are injured and three (including the perpetrator) are dead.
The final section 'Elegy' is dedicated to the lives of hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, who were tragically killed during the siege. Solemn and reflective, 'Elegy' hopes to capture Australia's heartfelt response to the victims of the attack.
'SIEGE' is available for purchase at www.jaredmccunnie.com/siege