Russ Lockwood, the president of MagWeb, has expanded the scope of the products and services he provides by producing what I assume will be the first of a series of musical CD's relating to the art of war. With a selection of original electronic classical music written by an artist named "Wynter," Emperor Triumphant musically portrays the vicissitudes of an imperiled realm being defended by a dogged and ultimately successful emperor. The descriptions of the nine movements that came with the brochure that was sent me reads as follows:

Cavalry Clash 2:29 minutes. A surprise raid by enemy cavalry heralds the attack on the realm.

The Imperial Ball 3:50. The Emperor arrives for the Grand Ball, a whirl of color, splendor, and elegance. Word of the invasion reaches his ears and whispers hover upon each musical note. Yet the Emperor exudes calm and the ladies dance into the wee hours of the morning on the last evening of peace.

Lost Battle 6:18. The war starts badly. Border forces fight bravely amidst the rumble of artillery, brawl of infantry, and clash of cavalry sabers, but are ultimately defeated. Still, the battle buys time for the Emperor.

Rally to the Emperor 9:08. The Emperor summons his people to rally around the throne. As the Palace Guard marches in review, more and more people join in a patriotic parade.

The Armorer's Forge 4:01. The nation races to arm as a new army arises to replace the old. Meanwhile, the enemy draws nearer.

Battle Royale 15:25. Imperial forces, rejuvenated with new recruits, stalemate the enemy and counterattack furiously. The battle hangs in balance and time teeters to a halt. Then, slowly, the tide begins to turn and the victorious Imperial advance begins.

Tattoo for the Dead 5:43. The Emperor dedicates a memorial to honor the fallen and remind the living never to forget the sacrifices made upon the field of battle.

Accolades for the Heroes 3:52. As the army chases the enemy beyond the border, the Emperor awards medals, decorations, and promotions to soldiers of all ranks in grateful appreciation of their service.

March of Triumph 2:50. The enemy defeated, the tyrant deposed, and peace restored, the Emperor leads a victory march in the capital.

All in all, this makes for good music for wargamers to move lead to, for readers to read to, or for audiophiles to listen to for its own sake. The music has a classical "feel" to it with obvious military overtones. The CD sells for $20.00 including postage and can be ordered at www.magweb.com.

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
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