Beowulf

From Wind Repertory Project
W. Francis McBeth

W. Francis McBeth


Subtitle: An Heroic Trilogy

This work bears the designation Opus 71.


General Info

Year: 1986
Duration: c. 9:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music Co.
Cost: Score and Parts - $130.00   |   Score Only - $15.00


Movements

1. Herot: The Great Hall
2. Grendel: The Scion of Cain
3. Beowulf: A Feast of Life


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Chimes
  • Glockenspiel
  • Snare Drum


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Commissioned by and dedicated to Harry Pfingsten and the Avon Lake High School Shoremen Band, Avon Lake, Ohio.

- Program Note from publisher


Beowulf is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines. It is possibly the oldest surviving long poem in Old English and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature. It was written in England some time between the 8th and the early 11th century. The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, referred to by scholars as the "Beowulf poet".

The poem is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hroðgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland (Götaland in modern Sweden) and later becomes king of the Geats. After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is fatally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants bury him in a tumulus, a burial mound, in Geatland.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media

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


State Ratings

  • Arkansas: V
  • Georgia: VI
  • Iowa: IV
  • Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
  • Kansas: V
  • Louisiana: V
  • Michigan: Senior High A
  • New York: Concert Band VI
  • North Carolina: VI
  • Oklahoma: V-A
  • South Carolina: VI
  • Tennessee: V
  • Virginia: VI


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

  • Battaglia (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1967/2021)


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Beowulf, Wikipedia
  • McBeth, W. (1986). Beowulf: An Heroic Trilogy [score]. Southern Music: San Antonio, Tex.