Citius, Altius, Fortius!

Olympic Fanfare

“With its catchy melodies and skillful orchestration, Citius, Altius, Fortius! more than held its own alongside the American symphonic repertoire.”
– Steve Bergeron, La Tribune

“A brilliant ouverture. […] Citius, Altius, Fortius! (Faster, Higher, Stronger!) certainly lives up to its name.”
– Pipedreams, Michael Barone

“Very much in the spirit of the glorious Olympic Games.”
– Ludwig van Montréal, Caroline Rodgers

Citius, Altius, Fortius! (Faster, Higher, Stronger!) is a short and energetic orchestral movement, a type of fanfare or overture, inspired by the Olympic motto. The work is characterized by rapid, bustling textures (citius), ascending melodic gestures (altius), and powerful, brass chords (fortius). Beyond the rivalry, media craze, and prestigious medals, the Olympic games epitomize the invigorating adventure of surpassing oneself. The Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius is for me a rousing call of encouragement to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. It is in this very state of mind that I composed the piece, and in which I wish to drive the listener. It is dedicated to each of my parents who, in their own way, brought me to go beyond expectations and surpass myself.

Citius, altius, fortius! was premiered in 2008 by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the upcoming Winter Olympic Games of 2010, in Vancouver.

Instrumentation:
– Version for full orchestra: 3.3.3.3 / 4.3.3.1 / timp+2 / hrp / strings
– Version for symphonic orchestra: 2.2.2.2 / 4.2.3.1 / timp+2 / strings
– Version for wind orchestra: 3fl, 3ob, 2bsn, 3cl, 2cl-b / 2sax-a, 1sax-t, 1sax-b / 4hrn, 3trp, 2tbn-t, 1tbn-b, 1eup, 1tuba / hrp, pno, cel (optional) / timp / 2perc (arr. Yann Bail)
– Version for organ
– Short version (30 sec.) for brass quintet (arr. Eric Jones-Cadieux)

Duration: 3 minutes

Commissioned by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Bramwell Tovey, as part of the Olympic Commissioning Project.

Premiere: December 6th, 2008, by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and maestro Jean-Marie Zeitouni, at the Orpheum Theatre, in Vancouver.

Dedicated to my parents.

Discography:
– The orchestral version of Citius, altius, fortius! is featured on the album Les plaisirs coupables of the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke with maestro Stephane Laforest, published in 2017.
– The organ version of Citius, altius, fortius! is featured on the album Jean-Willy Kunz Au grand orgue Pierre-Béique, published at ATMA Classique, in 2017.

Performances of Citius, Altius, Fortius!

2025, Aug. 26 | Jean-Willy Kunz (organ) | Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Paris, France
2025, May 3 | Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Tania Miller | Sid Buckwold Theatre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

2023, Feb. 2 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison symphonique de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
2023, Feb. 1 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison symphonique de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
2023, Jan. 31 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison symphonique de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
2023, Jan. 30 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison symphonique de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
2023, Jan. 29 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison symphonique de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

2022, Nov. 9 | Angelique Po | Glasgow University Memorial Chapel, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2022, June 30 | National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Alain Trudel | FirstOntario Concert Hall, Hamilton, ON, Canada

2021, Sept. 22 | Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Nathanaël Iselin | Symphonic Hall, Musikhuset Aarhus, Danmark
2021, June 5 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Dina Gilbert | Aéroport Montréal-Trudeau, Montreal, Canada

2019, Nov. 8 | Jean-Willy Kunz | Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver BC, Canada
2019, Aug. 10 | Symphonie de la Virée, Adam Johnson | Complexe Desjardins, Montreal, QC, Canada
2019, Apr. 14 | Harmonie de Luzy, Yann Bail | Église de Savigny-Poil-Fol, Luzy, France
2019, Apr. 13 | Harmonie de Luzy, Yann Bail | Salle des fêtes Marcel Joyeux, Luzy, France
2019, Apr. 11 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison Symphonique, Montreal, QC, Canada
2019, Apr. 10 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison Symphonique, Montreal, QC, Canada
2019, Apr. 9 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison Symphonique, Montreal, QC, Canada
2019, Apr. 8 | Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson | Maison Symphonique, Montreal, QC, Canada

2018, Feb. 16 | Jean-Willy Kunz | Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, United States

2017, Dec. 15 | Jean-Willy Kunz | Maison symphonique, Montreal, QC, Canada
2017, Nov. 4 | Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Dina Gilbert | Rimouski, QC, Canada
2017, July 1 | National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Boris Brott | Bayfront Park, Hamilton, ON, Canada
2017, June 13 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Lucas Waldin | Winspear Centre, AB, Canada
2017, May 5 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Lucas Waldin | Winspear Centre, AB, Canada (educational concert)
2017, May 4 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Lucas Waldin | Winspear Centre, AB, Canada (educational concert)
2017, May 3 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Lucas Waldin | Winspear Centre, AB, Canada (educational concert)
2017, May 2 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Lucas Waldin | Winspear Centre, AB, Canada (educational concert)
2017, May 1 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Lucas Waldin | Winspear Centre, AB, Canada (educational concert)
2017, Apr. 9 | Victoria Symphony, Tania Miller | Victoria Arena, Victoria, BC, Canada
2017, March 4 | National Arts Centre Orchestra, Alain Trudel | NAC Southam Hall, ON, Canada
2017, Feb. 19 | Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra, Stéphane Laforest | Salle Maurice-O’Bready, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

2014, Jan. 19 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Prior | Winspear Centre, Edmonton

2012, July 1 | National Art Center Orchestra, Tania Miller | Southam Hall, Ottawa (2 concerts)

2009, July 4 | National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Geneviève Leclair | Brott Music festival, Hamilton

2008, Aug. 12 | Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Jean-Marie Zeitouni | Centennial Theatre, Vancouver
2008, June 12 | Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Jean-Marie Zeitouni | Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver (premiere)

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