Swords Against the Sea
Subtitle: The Legend of Blackbeard the Pirate
General Info
Year: 2001
Duration: c. 7:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Curnow Music Press, through Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $79.00 | Score Only (print) - $16.00
Movements
1. Aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge
2. Awaiting their Imminent
3. Battle to the Death
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute (Piccolo)
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Accordion (optional)
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Bongos
- Conga
- Canon
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tom-tom
- Triangle
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Blackbeard and his crew of ruffian freebooters aboard the ship Queen Anne's Revenge were the terrors of the Atlantic and the Caribbean in the early 18th century. Composer James L. Hosay captures those turbulent times in music with his vivid and exciting tone poem, Swords Against The Sea. A rollicking sea chantey and the emotions of impending battle are described in the first two movements. The final movement brings the sound and fury of battle, as the most feared pirate of his day finally meets his match.
- Program Note adapted from publisher
In celebration of the discovery of the shipwreck Queen Anne's Revenge.
- Program Note from score
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Johan Willem Friso Military Band
State Ratings
- Alabama: Class CC
- Georgia: IV
- Minnesota: III
- Tennessee: III
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Across the Currituck Sound (2007)
- Appomattox (2004)
- Architect of Victory (1994)
- Atlantic Avenue (1996)
- Battle Hymn 2000 (2000)
- Black Granite (1996)
- Black Granite (adapt. Patterson) (1996/2020?)
- Christmas Latina (2004)
- Colonial Collage, A (2001)
- Diamond Prelude (1999)
- Fanfare Britannica (2001)
- Fantasia on a 13th Century Carol (2006)
- First Light on the Chesapeake
- Harbor Park Holiday
- Hero for Today (as arranger)
- Ice Breaker (2009)
- Land of Louisa
- Mayan Sports Festival (2003)
- Patriotic Salute, A (2001)
- Persis (2000)
- Pride of the Fleet (2003)
- Guardians of Peace (1999)
- Second Dawning, The (1996)
- Sing We Liberty (2006)
- The Sound of Silence (as arranger) (1964/2018)
- Splashes of Gold
- Swords Against the Sea (2001)
- The Virginians (1994)
- We Hold These Truths (1997)
- With Full Honors (1994)
Resources
- James Hosay website Accessed 21 March 2022