Battle Hymn of the Republic, The (arr Zaninelli)
Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe; music by William Steffe (arr. Luigi Zaninelli)
General Info
Year: 1861 / 1998
Duration: c. 6:25
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Song
Publisher: Shawnee Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $100.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano or Harp (optional)
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Snare Drum
- Tam-Tam
- Vibraphone
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
The music of Luigi Zaninelli is known to performers and audiences around the world for work that excites the senses and stimulates the mind. He has become known as a composer of great craft and powerful emotional statement. Commissioned by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Battle Hymn of the Republic was adapted and arranged during Zaninelli's tenure as composer-in-residence and professor of music at The University of Southern Mississippi.
- Program Note from Ocean Springs High School Wind Symphony concert program, 4 March 2020
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio flash drive: Ocean Springs (Miss.) High School Wind Symphony (Mohamad Schuman, conductor) – 2020
- Audio CD: TMEA All-State Bands - 2003
State Ratings
- Mississippi: VI-A
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) Symphonic Winds (Colin McKenzie, conductor) - 3 October 2021
- Ocean Springs (Miss.) High School Wind Symphony (Mohamad Schuman, Jr., conductor) - 4 March 2020 (86th Annual ABA National Convention)
- Ocean Springs (Miss.) High School Wind Symphony (Muhamad Schuman, conductor) – 22 February 2020 (CBDNA 2020 Southern Division Conference, Natchitoches, La.)
- Louisiana All-State Band - 2016
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Althouse and Williams) (1861/1997)
- Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Ployhar) (1861/1971)
- Battle Hymn of the Republic (setting Wilhousky; arr. Neilson) (1861/1994)
- The Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Dragon) (1861/1961)
- The Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Smith) (1861/1982/1997)
- The Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Zaninelli) (1861/1998)
Resources
- Battle Hymn of the Republic, Wikipedia
- Luigi Zaninelli website Accessed 6 February 2020
- William Steffe, Wikipedia
- Zaninelli, L.; Howe, J. (1998). Battle Hymn of the Republic : For Symphonic Band and Optional Mixed Chorus [score]. Shawnee Press: Delaware Water Gap, Penn.