The title Great and Terrible draws directly from biblical prophecy concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ—a moment that will bring radiant joy to the righteous and overwhelming dread to the wicked. This epic brass quintet composition is conceived as a stately march, heralding the return of the King of Kings to His earthly kingdom. Its musical language is both ominous and triumphant, reflecting the duality of awe and fear that accompanies this prophesied event.

Two scriptures serve as the foundation of the work’s inspiration:

Malachi 4:5

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Joel 2:31

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.

The quintet unfolds as a ceremonial procession, its march-like character symbolizing the regal advance of Christ as He reclaims His terrestrial realm. Dark harmonies and foreboding sonorities evoke the fearsome signs of the times, while noble themes and radiant brass textures embody the triumph of divine victory.

In its closing measures, the ensemble rises to its fullest brilliance. The brass instruments—resonant, commanding, and resplendent—shine in their best light, representing the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ. The music concludes not in despair, but in exaltation: a sonic vision of eternal victory, where the righteous rejoice and the King of Kings reigns supreme.