Countdown is the musical embodiment of anticipation--an eerie sense that something is approaching, and it's probably not good. Through suspenseful techniques like tonic drones and accompaniments emphasizing beats 4 and 1, the piece steadily builds tension, layer by layer, until it erupts in a climactic explosion of sound. Every section of the orchestra is actively involved, with opportunities to play both melody and harmony, keeping all students fully engaged from start to finish.