Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr Ployhar)

From Wind Repertory Project
William Steffe
Julia Ward Howe

Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe; music by William Steffe (arr. James D Ployhar)


General Info

Year: 1861 / 1971
Duration: C. 5:55
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Hymn
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Co.
Cost: Score and Parts - Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

Condensed Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbal
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

William Steffe (1830–1890) collected and edited a camp-meeting song with the traditional Glory Hallelujah refrain, in about 1856. It opened with "Say, brothers, will you meet us / on Canaan's happy shore?" The tune became widely known. Early in the American Civil War, this tune was used to create the Union army marching song John Brown's Body, which begins with the lyrics "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on."

In November 1861, Julia Ward Howe, having heard this version, used the tune as the basis of her new verse, later known as Battle Hymn of the Republic, also known as Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory outside of the United States. Howe's more famous lyrics were written in November 1861 and first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. The song links the judgment of the wicked at the end of time (New Testament, Rev. 19) with the American Civil War. Since that time, it has become an extremely popular and well-known American patriotic song.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Western Illinois University (Macomb) Wind Ensemble (Mike Fansler, conductor) - 11 November 2023
  • Western Illinois University (Macomb) Wind Ensemble (Mike Fansler, conductor) – 11 November 2021
  • Western Illinois University (Macomb) Wind Ensemble (Mike Fansler, conductor) – 10 November 2018
  • Karl L. King Municipal Band (Fort Dodge, Iowa) (David Klee, conductor) – 11 June 2017


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources