They Hung Their Harps in the Willows

W. Francis McBeth

This work bears the designation Opus 77.

General Info

Year: 1988
Duration: c. 7:15
Difficulty: III-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music Company
Cost: Score and Parts - $80.00 | Score Only - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
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 Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Glockenspiel
Gong (Tam-Tam)
Suspended Cymbal
Tom-Toms
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

They Hung Their Harps in the Willows was commissioned by and dedicated to the Plano East Senior High Band of Plano, Texas, Larry Tucker and Robin Owens, conductors. It was premiered on February 16, 1989, at Plano East High School with the composer conducting.

The work was written in memory of Claude T Smith and the title is taken from Psalm 137. "By the rivers of Babylon, there they sat down and wept. Upon the willows in the midst of it, we hung our harps." This Biblical reference is to the Babylonian captivity.

- Program note from score

Media

Reference recording (ensemble and conductor unknown)

State Ratings

Alabama: Class BB
Arkansas: IV
Florida: IV
Iowa: IV
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP II
North Carolina: IV
South Carolina: V
Virginia: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Texas (Austin) Symphony Band (Joshua Gall, conductor) – 2 October 2019
Lenoir-Rhyne University (Hickory, N.C.) Wind Symphony (Daniel Kiser, conductor) – 26 April 2019
Los Angeles (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Stephen Piazza, conductor) – 2 December 2018
Valdosta (Ga.) State University Concert Band (Benjamin Harper, conductor) - 25 April 2018
Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds (Nathan Brown, conductor) - 3 March 2013
CBDNA Small College Intercollegiate Band (Lowell Graham, conductor) – 26 March 2011 (CBDNA 2011 National Conference, Seattle, Wash.)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

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

All Wind Works

Air and Dance (2005)
Annabel Lee (2004)
Battaglia (1967)
Battaglia (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1967/2021)
Beowulf (1966)
Caccia (1980)
Canticle (1969)
Cantique and Faranade (1967)
Canto (1977)
Capriccio Concertant (1976)
Cavata (1981)
Chant and Jubilo (1963)
Chase (2006)
The Coventry (2003)
Daniel in the Lion's Den (1991/1994)
Divergents
Drammatico (1970)
Drayton Hall Esprit (1992)
The Dream Catcher (1997)
Estampie (2000)
The Feast of Trumpets (!982)
Festive Centennial (1974)
The Fifth Trumpeter (1989)
Flourishes (1982)
Grace Praeludium (1982)
Intermezzo from "Manon Lescaut" (as arranger) (1893/1984)
It is Well
Joyant Narrative (1966)
Kaddish (1976)
Keltic Dances (2004)
Lauds and Tropes (1997)
The Lions of North Bridge (2000)
Masque (1968)
Mosaic (!964)
Of Sailors and Whales (1989)
Praises (1984)
Reflections Past (1965)
The Sacred Flame
Scaramouche (2002)
The Sea Treaders (1996)
Second Suite for Band (1961)
The Seventh Seal (1972)
Third Movement from "Symphony No. 2" (Hanson) (as arranger) (1930/1983)
Symphonic Dance No. 1, "Comanche Ritual" (as transcriber) (1965/2013)
They Hung Their Harps in the Willows (1988)
This Land of El Dorado (1993)
Through Countless Halls of Air (1995)
To Be Fed By Ravens (1975)
To the Unknowns (1987)
When Honor Whispers and Shouts (1998)
When Rossi Strikes
Wine From These Grapes (1992)
With Sounding Trumpets (1987)

Resources

McBeth, W. (1989). They Hang Their Harps in the Willows [score]. Southern Music: San Antonio, Tx.