Fantasia on an Irish Hymn: 1st Percussion
By John O'Reilly
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0014252_PC1
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Description
Based on the beautiful Irish hymn Be Thou My Vision, this brilliant fantasia presents a variety of musical styles that will challenge and stimulate the developing band. A broad, modal fanfare opens the work followed by a full ensemble statement of the hymn. A rapid 12/8 percussion ostinatato in the style of traditional Irish folk music sets up the second section and continues under the haunting Mixolydian melody. A drone-style accompaniment and interesting counter-melodies add to the excitement before the hymn returns in a glorious maestoso. This unique combination of musical elements makes for another thrilling and inspiring new work from John O'Reilly!
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Additional Details
Series:
Growing Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
268
SKU:
00-PC-0014252_PC1
More about this title
Why we love this
O'Reilly's approach to the Irish hymn tradition feels fresh without abandoning its spiritual core. The structural arc from modal fanfare through folk-inflected middle section to maestoso climax gives developing bands real architectural challenges to solve, and the payoff rewards careful rehearsal with genuine musical payoff. This is the kind of piece that teaches ensemble sound while honoring the source material.
What to expect
The opening has the gravitas of a Celtic stone chapel, austere and contemplative. Once the folk rhythms arrive, the energy shifts into something more grounded and almost earthy, with the drone and counter-melodies creating a sense of swirling motion. The final maestoso feels like emerging into light, the hymn transformed and luminous.
Who it's for
This work suits Grade 3 concert bands with solid fundamentals in blend and intonation who are ready to navigate modal writing and layered textures. Directors seeking a sacred concert or festival program piece that respects its hymn source while offering contemporary compositional interest will find a thoughtful fit here.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the modal fanfare's open intervals carefully; resist the urge to overdrive the dynamics in the opening. Let the austerity of the harmony create its own weight.
- The 12/8 percussion ostinato in the second section needs rhythmic precision from the entire ensemble. Lock the snare drum and mallets first, then layer woodwind and brass around that anchor.
- Shape the Mixolydian melody with a clear dynamic contour even as the drone and counter-melodies build underneath. The soloist (oboe or clarinet, likely) should sing through the texture, not recede into it.
- Approach the maestoso return of the hymn with controlled warmth. The tempo should feel inevitable, not rushed; let the full ensemble sound settle into the harmony before pressing forward.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece in a sacred or cultural-heritage themed concert, where it can stand alongside spirituals or other hymn-based works. Its moderate length and accessible Grade 3 level make it ideal for festival or adjudicated competition, and the musical maturity of the writing means it will impress listeners beyond the band room.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and playing in modal tonality (Dorian and Mixolydian)
- Balancing ensemble texture with drone accompaniments and counter-melodies
- Executing rhythmic precision in mixed meters (12/8 ostinato against standard sections)
- Shaping longer-form sectional structures with clarity and direction
- Blending open intervals and quartal harmonies without losing intonation