This fanfare, written in 2004, is so called because it was intended for a degree ceremony.  The academic nature of the occasion is matched by the formal working of the musical material.

The opening declares three rhythmic bursts of sound using combined D and C major chords.  Additionally, the Bass Trombone, Tuba and Timpani state a three-note motif  F, Ab and E  providing a bi-tonal bite to the piece.  A short tonal melody for the four trumpets ensues, with a pulsating chordal motif.  These motives are all developed in various ways, building up to a vibrant E-major chord, with added 6th and 9th, for the whole ensemble.