Nature of the Beast, The

Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux

Subtitle: An Essay on Life

General Info

Year: 2001
Duration: c. 7:10
Difficulty: V+ (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $130.00   |   Score Only (print) - $35.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto 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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Crash Cymbals
• Finger Cymbals
• Marimba
• Snare Drum
• Tambourine
• Triangle
• Tubular Bells
• Vibraphone
• Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Let me first clarify that the word "beast" in the title is by no means a reference to evil. It is simply a metaphor for life. I felt that to have named the piece "The Nature of Life" would not have captured the essence of true life or of this work. Life, and I can only draw upon my own experiences, has the tendency to be uncontrollable and unpredictable. It certainly will never be restrained by the imaginary "leash" we try to use to control and contain it. Powerful, silent, and often whimsical, time drags us forward or launches us into a whirlwind of emotions and trials that we can either learn from or ultimately be lost in. Life becomes a test of faith, survival not of the fittest but more of those who persevere. And, it is a gift, one that we can do with as we please. It is an unending march that we try to keep step with and add to, and if we are lucky, the melody of our own existence will be added to it. For that march is the music of our ancestors – created by facing, but never taming, The Nature of the Beast.

- Program Note by composer

Composed for the Tara Winds, Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. David Gregory, Conductor.

- Program Note from score

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio CD: Tara Winds (Lowell Graham, conductor) – 2001

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Tara Winds (Hampton, Ga.) (Lowell Graham, conductor) – 21 December 2001 (2001 Midwest Clinic) *Premiere Performance*

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, J. (2001). The Nature of the Beast: An Essay on Life: For Concert Band [score]. Musica Propria: San Antonio, Tx.
• Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021