Romulus, the mythical founder and first ruler of Rome, called upon outcasts from outlying communities to come to his new homeland and to settle upon the Capitoline Hill where he built a sanctuary for the misfits of other communities. Romulus however soon discovered that his city was lacking for women, so he announced that a games event would be held in honour of the god Consus and invited the Latins and the Sabines to this celebration. It was during this event that the Romans lashed out upon the virgins of the community and carried them away.
Romulus' reign was forever tainted by the story of the rape of the Sabine women.

Compositional Notes

Intro
Two armies face each other outside the walls of a fortified city. The mood is tense and expectant. Each side stands firm in a show of strength and determination.
Neither army is going to give way.

Section 1
As the riff starts to play, the Roman army begins its advance. The moderately slow tempo accentuates the heavy, driving rhythm symbolising the relentless march of the legion that bears down upon its enemy completely without remorse.
Verse 1 – The opening melody depicts the Sabine’s fighting as best they can against the grim and unstoppable rhythm of the Roman army as the battle begins.
Verse 2 - The battle becomes yet more desperate as the Romans steadily overpower the Sabines, sweeping aside all resistance in their path and storm the battlements.

Section 2
The scene changes to a temple where the Sabine women are praying to their gods for the Romans to be merciful. The women are terrified and apprehensive in fear of things to come.

Orchestration note:
The choir is the sound of the Sabine women praying for mercy.
The pulsating synthesiser is the sound of the women’s hearts pounding in their anxiety.
The slow thudding bass is the sound of the Roman soldiers breaking down the temple gates.

Section 3
The Roman soldiers finally breach the gates and come pouring into the temple. The Sabine women are screaming and begging for mercy as they are savagely attacked before being dragged and carried away by the soldiers.
The scene is one of desperation, brutality and chaos.

Orchestration notes:
The choral counter melody behind the guitar solo depicts the cries of the Sabine women - “save us”.

The high pitched, wailing melody to the final verse symbolises the desperate cries and pleas of the Sabine women as they are forcibly taken and assaulted by the Roman soldiers.