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Be Thou My Vision (Gillingham)

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David Gillingham

David Gillingham


General Info

Year: 1999
Duration: c. 6:50
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Cost: Score and Parts - $89.00   |   Score Only - $18.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
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
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV

  • Bells
  • Chimes
  • Marimba
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

It's not often you come across a composition that offers the high level of musical merit needed to appeal to directors and also offers an emotional depth able to truly move an audience. This is such a piece. Gillingham bases his reverent and powerful work on the hymn tune Be Thou My Vision (also known as the old Irish ballad Slane), with its eternal message of faith and hope. It goes far beyond being an arrangement of a familiar hymn tune, as Gillingham gives moments of real drama in the shimmering tonal colors provided by the woodwinds and the glorious brass lines that break through like dazzling sunlight through the clouds.

- Program Note from publisher


It was an honor and privilege to compose this work for Ray and Molly Cramer in honor of their parents. The work is heartfelt, expressive and hopefully inspiring. The hymn tune Slane is one of my favorites and inspired me to compose a countermelody which is likened to an old Irish ballad. Since Slane is, in fact, an old Irish ballad, the two tunes share this unique camaraderie.

The work opens with a medieval-like flavor of reverence leading to the first presentation of Slane (Be Thou My Vision) in D-minor stated in chant-like somberness by the euphonium. Following, the newly composed Irish ballad is sung by the flute, which leads to a dramatic statement of Be Thou My Vision by the full ensemble in A-major. The work is interrupted by a prayerful interlude. Following is the marriage of the two Irish tunes in D-flat major which grows to a glorious climax and then subsides. A heavenly benediction closes the work.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

  • Alabama: Class A
  • Georgia: V
  • Louisiana: IV
  • Maryland: Concert Band V
  • Michigan: Senior High A
  • Minnesota: I
  • North Carolina: V
  • Oklahoma: IV-A
  • South Carolina: III
  • Texas: IV. Complete


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM) Symphonic Band (Brett Penshorn, conductor) - 27 February 2023
  • Iowa State University (Ames) Wind Ensemble (Byron Tinder, conductor) - 3 February 2023
  • Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony (Knoxville, Tenn.) (Logan Campbell, conductor) - 3 September 2022
  • Central Lakes College (Brainerd, Minn.) Wind Symphony (Jonathan Laflamme, conductor) - 29 April 2022
  • Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Cassidy Nalepa, conductor) - 25 March 2022
  • Stephen F. Austin University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Chris Kaatz, conductor) - 25 April 2021
  • Western Illinois University (Macomb) Wind Ensemble (Mike Fansler, conductor) - 6 March 2021
  • Dordt University (Sioux Center, Iowa) Wind Symphony (Onsby Rose, conductor) - 16 October 2020
  • Perrysburg (Ohio) High School Wind Ensemble (Scott Schleuter, conductor) - 9 March 2020
  • Arkansas State University (Jonesboro) Symphonic Winds (Steven Riley, conductor) - 27 February 2020
  • University of Miami (Coral Gables) Frost Symphonic Winds (Steven Moore, conductor) – 16 February 2020
  • Sacramento (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Tim Smith conductor) – 8 December 2019
  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Symphony Band (Joseph D. Conti, conductor) – 21 November 2019
  • Ohio University (Athens) Symphonic Band (Brooke Woods, conductor) – 3 November 2019
  • Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Edwin Powell, conductor) – 13 October 2019
  • Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.) Wind Symphony II (Curran Prendergast, conductor) – 22 September 2019
  • Young Artists Wind Ensemble (Boston, Mass.) (David Martins, conductor) – 14 July 2019
  • University of North Texas (Denton) University Band (Jochen McEvoy, conductor) – 20 February 2019
  • Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Symphonic Band (Kirk Saville, conductor) – 14 February 2019
  • Bowling Green (Ohio) State University Concert Band (Bruce Moss, conductor) – 29 November 2018
  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Concert Band (Jason H. Nam, conductor) – 30 October 2018


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Gillingham, D. (1999). Be Thou My Vision [score]. C. Alan Pub.: Greensboro, N.C.
  • Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. 2002. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 4. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 450-454.
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