Quest of the Magi: 2nd Percussion
Fantasy on We Three Kings
By Brian Beck
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0019196_PC2
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Description
The Quest of the Magi was one of the working titles for John Henry Hopkins Jr.'s famous carol, "We Three Kings." Written in 1857 for a Christmas pageant in New York City, "We Three Kings" tells the tale of the Magis' journey to find a newly born king in a faraway land and the precious gifts they brought with them. This piece focuses more on the journey of "following yonder star." Traveling across many countries in the first century was a perilous task, full of danger, thievery, and possible death, not to mention these men were traveling with some of the most precious and expensive cargo one could possess. This piece chronicles the magi acquiring myrrh, frankincense, and gold for their journey. Each treasure is represented by its own motif and woven into Hopkins' original carol. (2:45)
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019196_PC2
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Beck
Brian Beck composes and arranges music for instrumental and vocal ensembles while working as a clinician and educator. His compositions have earned recognition as Reviewers' Choice selections from The Instrumentalist and J. W. Pepper, appeared in Teaching Music Through Performance In Band (GIA Publications), and been featured at TMEA Honor Band concerts, Midwest clinics, and state-level marching competitions.
Beck directed bands at Faubion Middle School in McKinney, Texas, and previously led the Symphonic I Band at Byrd Middle School in Duncanville, where he received a Teacher of the Year nomination. His ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL contests and advanced to TMEA State Honor Band competition. He holds degrees in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce (bachelor's) and the University of Houston (master's), and was himself a member of the TMEA All-State Band as a student.
Why we love this
Beck captures the narrative weight of the Magi's journey without sacrificing accessibility at Grade 2.5, using distinct musical motifs for myrrh, frankincense, and gold that give your students something concrete to listen for and shape. The piece honors Hopkins' beloved melody while reframing it as an adventure story, which resonates with young musicians and audiences alike.
What to expect
The piece evokes the sense of travelers moving across vast, unfamiliar terrain with purpose and determination. There's warmth in the familiar carol melody, but Beck layers in moments of discovery and weight as each precious cargo is introduced, creating a musical journey that feels both reverent and adventurous.
Who it's for
Grade 2.5 concert bands looking for Christmas programming that goes beyond straightforward carol arrangements. This work suits intermediate bands with developing section leaders who can carry the distinct motifs while maintaining ensemble balance.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the three treasure motifs early in sectional rehearsals so students understand how each gift's theme weaves through the arrangement. This contextual knowledge deepens their interpretation of the musical narrative.
- Balance the interplay between the main carol melody and the supporting motifs to ensure Hopkins' original tune remains the anchor while the new material builds texture around it.
- Use the 2:45 duration as a guide for pacing; maintaining forward momentum through the journey keeps the audience engaged in the story arc rather than settling into static carol performance.
How to use it
Program this after other, simpler holiday selections to showcase your ensemble's growing musicality and storytelling ability. It works particularly well in a Christmas concert that mixes traditional carols with contemporary band arrangements, bridging what audiences expect with what your musicians are capable of performing.
Skills your students will build
- Tracking and executing distinct musical motifs within a larger composition
- Balancing melody and accompaniment textures
- Maintaining rhythmic integrity through sections with varying instrumental doublings
- Interpreting programmatic content through musical expression