Mystery on Mena Mountain

Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux

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General Info

Year: 1985
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $105.00   |   Score Only - $8.75

Instrumentation

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

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This popular programmatic piece was first played and recorded by Frank Wickes and the Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble in 1985. The title refers to a story of two children who disappeared in the vicinity of Mena Mountain in 1940. According to a legend in the Ozark Mountains of western Arkansas, the two children set out to meet angels who were believed to live in the clouds above Mena Mountain.

As the work opens, the sun is rising above the mountain top with the main theme representing the power of the mountain itself. An allegro tempo indicates that the children are beginning their climb; a slower section describes their wandering through the foggy morning until a break in the mist reveals a choir of 200 white-robed angels singing and playing golden instrument. Entranced by the music, the children walk on the clouds and accept the invitation of the angels to accompany them to heaven. As the piece closes, the clouds rise and float slowly out of sight, leaving Mena Mountain as it was before.

- Program Note by the composer for Program Notes for Band

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

• Alabama: Class CC
• Arkansas: III
• Kansas: IV
• Maryland: IV
• Massachusetts: I
• New York: Concert Band III
• Oklahoma: III-A
• South Carolina: IV
• Tennessee: III
• Virginia: IV

• MusicFest Canada: B300

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, Penn.) Symphonic Winds (Travis Weller conductor) - 22 September 2023
• Sacramento (Calif.) State University Concert Band (Matthew Morse, conductor) - 15 March 2023
• Nebraska Wind Symphony (Omaha) (Joshua Roach, conductor) - 16 October 2022
• Texas Woman's University (Denton) University Band (Carter Biggers, conductor) - 27 October 2021
• Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Symphony Band (Shaun Popp, conductor) – 8 March 2020
• University of Louisville Concert Band, (Jason Cumberledge, conductor) - 20 February 2019
• University of Oklahoma (Norman) Concert Band (Brian T. Wolfe, conductor) – 26 February 2018
• University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Concert Band (Bradley Esau, conductor) – 15 February 2017
• Arkansas (Fayetteville) Winds Community Concert Band (Michael Ferguson, conductor) - 25 April 2015
• University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Campus Band - 5 March 2015
• University of Nevada (Reno) Wind Ensemble (A G McGrannahan III, conductor) – 15 March 2012 (CBDNA 2012 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• The Bonsai Tree (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
• Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
• I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
• Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
• One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
• Opa! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
• Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
• A Time to Dance (2006) (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

• Across the Isle of Skye
• Af-free-kah! (2013)
• All Good Things (2003)
• All Through the Night (as arranger) (2011)
• Always (2019)
• Amaranthine (2008)
• Appalachian Portrait (2017)
• Arcus IX
• The Ash Grove (2019)
• Autumn Rose (2017)
• Away in a Manger (as arranger) (2011)
• Before the Sun (2013)
• Beyond Measure (2023)
• Beyond the Gates (2022)
• The Bench by the Sea (2017)
• The Blue Marble (2022)
• The Bonsai Tree (2010)
• Bookmarks from Japan (2013)
• Boston Liberties (2003)
• Burning the Wickerman (2020)
• Carnaval! (2013)
• Celestial Seas (2014)
• Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion (as arranger) (2015)
• Christmas and Sousa Forever (as arranger) (2010)
• Christmas Toons (2012)
• Christmas with Mozart (2007)
• Circus Franticus (2001)
• Córdoba (2013)
• Crown of Thorns (1998)
• Culloden (2000)
  • Culloden I and II
  • Culloden III
• Dragon Sky (2015)
• Dream Dancer (2005)
• The Elements. See: Symphony No. 5
• Empire (2006)
• An Epic Fanfare. See: Three Fanfares
• Fantasy in French (2012)
• Fields of Gold (2019)
• The First Noel (as arranger)
• Fort McHenry Suite (2000)
• Freedom Rising (2017)
• Glenbury Grove (2009)
• Glorious Light (2019)
• Godspeed (2023)
• The Grace in Being (2013)
• The Greatest Generation (2002)
• Hands of Mercy (2001)
• HardDrive (2010)
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
• Hark! Those Bells Are Smokin’ (2011)
• The Hearthstone (2016)
• Husaria Cavalry Overture (2006)
• Hymn for the Innocent (2016)
• I Got Rhythm for Christmas (2012)
• Il Burlone (2000)
• I'll Be Home A'fore Ye (2006)
• I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas (as arranger) (1943/)
• Imbizo (2007)
• Impressions (2013)
• In My Father's Eyes (2017)
• In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/2018)
• Incantations (2019)
• Integrity Fanfare and March
• Italian Rhapsody (2005)
• Jerusalem (as arranger)
• Jingle Them Bells (as arranger) (1857/2011)
• Journey Through Orion (2006)
• Just Flyin'! (2015)
• K2 (2012)
• Kalanu (2002)
• Khan (2008)
• La Mezquita de Córdoba (2005)
• Legacy (2011)
• Let Your Spirit Sing (2003)
• The Little Drummer Boy's Bolero
• The Little Sparrow
• Louisiana Parish Sketches (2001)
• Mambo Perro Loco (2008)
• March of the Sun Dried Tomatoes (2000)
• Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
• Medalist Fanfare (2013)
• Mile High (2023)
• Moonshine. See: Shine
• Movin' on Down the Line (2009)
• My Soul to Keep (2019)
• Mystery on Mena Mountain (1985)
• Mythic (2021)
• The Nature of the Beast (2001)
• Nearer, My God, To Thee (as arranger) (2010)
• Nihonbashi. See: Market Bridge
• No Finer Calling (2006)
• No Man's Land (2017)
• Nothing That Is (2000)
• Nutcracker Fantasia (as arranger) (1891/2012)
• O Holy Night (arr. Giroux) (1847/2011)
• Of Blood and Stone (2015)
• Of Silence and Sparrows (2022)
• One Life Beautiful (2010)
• One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
• One Torch, Two Women, Three Ships and Men Rejoicing (2011)
• Opa! (2018)
• Ouachita (1987)
• Our Cast Aways (2018)
• Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
• Outlander (2010)
• Overture in Five Flat (2010)
• Paprikash (2014)
• Peter Patapan (2011)
• Poseidon (2010)
• Primality 2006)
• Prisoner of the Ring (1986)
• Radiant Shadows (2016)
• Rain Softly on Me (2022)
• The Red Baron Drummer
• Riften Wed (2013)
• River Shannon (2020)
• Shadow Falls (2013)
• Shine (2017)
• Silent Night in Gotham (as arranger) (1818/2009)
• Space Symphony (1986/1991)
• The Speed of Heat (2010)
• Stealing Home (2016)
• A Stocking Full of Composers (2009)
• Strathcona Suite (2012)
• Sun Catcher (2022)
• Swashbuckler (2010)
• Symphony No. 1. See: Culloden
• Symphony No. 2. See: A Symphony of Fables
• Symphony No. 3. See: No Finer Calling
• Symphony No. 4. See: Bookmarks from Japan
• Symphony No. 5 (2017)
• Symphony No. 6. see: The Blue Marble
• A Symphony of Fables (2006)
• Taboo for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
• Three Fanfares (2003)
• Three Wise Guys (2011)
• Tiger Tail March (2000)
• A Time to Dance (2006)
• To Walk with Wings (2000)
• Trillium
• The Twelve Days of Christmas (2012)
• The Twelve Gallon Hat (2013)
• Under the Influence (2022)
• Under the Willow (2015)
• A Very Merry Heart and Soul
• Vigils Keep (2005)
• Vortex (2015)
• Wagon Trail (2003)
• West Wind Overture (2012)
• What Child Is That Playing Carol of the Bells? (as arranger) (2011)
• What Goes in the Night (2000)
• When Country Comes to Town (2008)
• Where the Red Fern Grows (2016)
• Wild West Overture
• Winter from "The Four Seasons" (as arranger) (1725/)
• Without You
• Wolves in Moonlight (2019)
• Zephyr, Chorale and Dance (2012)

Resources

• Giroux-West, J. (1985). Mystery on Mena Mountain [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tex.
• Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021
• Miles, Richard B. 2000. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 3. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 26-263.
• Pease, Andy. "Mystery on Mena Mountain by Julie Giroux." Wind Band Literature, 18 January 2023. Web. Acce3ssed 18 January 2023
• Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 234.