Legend of the Honjo - Christina Huss, Eltham High School Concert Band

Eltham High School Concert Band, Conducted by Brent Mills. Recorded at Celebration Concert on Thursday 18th September 2025.

Legend of the Honjo – Christina Huss

Drawing upon the legend of Japan’s famed Honjō Masamune, composer Christina Huss has crafted an outstanding dramatic work for concert band tracing the legend of this most famous of all Japanese swords. This legendary sword, crafted by the famed blacksmith Gorō Nyūdō Masamune, was made a Japanese National treasure in 1939. The Honjō Masamune is said to have represented the Tokugawa shogunate, and was passed down
from one shōgun to another throughout the centuries until it was given up with the Japanese surrender at the end of WWII. Legend of the Honjo draws on proud dramatic statements symbolizing the Empire of Japan, and the fast thrilling ride, as the Honjō is transported across the US and ultimately lost in a sea of uncertainty.

Eltham High School Music Department

Eltham High School is a large high school on the urban rural fringe of north eastern Melbourne. The school’s primary focus has always been to enhance student outcomes through the provision of high quality teaching and learning strategies.

The Music Program at Eltham High School is internationally renowned for its excellence and is recognised as one of the finest school Instrumental Music Programs in Australia.

The Music Program provides private Instrumental lessons for all orchestral instruments: Strings, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion. Our Ensemble Program includes four Wind Ensembles, three String Ensembles, three Big Bands, a choir and various chamber ensembles, allowing our students to have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of musical experiences.

The students are also provided with Classroom Music lessons as part of their school curriculum. Music theory, song writing, arranging, composition, technology and solo performance make up the various components of the curriculum which is taught from year 7-12.

Eltham High School is highly regarded as an educational institution. Its reputation as an outstanding academic school is well recognised within the community and education circles. The co-curricular opportunities offered to our students across a range of areas including the performing and visual arts programs and the elite sports program are outstanding. Engagement with student leadership initiatives is sustained across all areas and levels of the school.

In the last 80 Years Eltham High School has established a tradition through its strong commitment to the areas of:

• Inspiring through excellence

• Creativity

• Individuality

• Social Justice.

Eltham High School is a school with high expectations where you feel safe to be yourself and challenged to think critically, to work independently and in teams, to show leadership and to achieve success along many pathways.

We believe that the “Deeds that Count” are:

• Respect

• Integrity

• Respect for diversity

• Environmental and social responsibility