Normandy Beach 1944
General Info
Year of Published: 1995
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 00:08:00
Cost: Scores & Parts: $36.00 | Score only:$12.00
Instrumentation
Player 1: Marimba 1
Player 2: Marimba 2
Player 3: Marimba 3
Player 4: Bass Marimba
Player 5: Vibraphone & Anvil & Tam-Tam
Player 6: Glockenspiel & Suspended Cymbal & 4 Tom-Toms
Description
On June 6, 1944, at dawn, British and American forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in an elaborate amphibious operation. A total of 425,000 American, British and German men lost their lives in the ensuing conflict. Normandy Beach 1944 was composed by David Gillingham in commemoration of this important, yet tragic day that changed the course of World War II. The work is cast in three sections. The first section is dark and mysterious and slow in tempo, characterizing the preparation and eve of D-Day. There are long pedal points mixed with poignant dissonance. Small two-note utterances by bowed marimba can be heard within this section which allude to distant bugle calls. Gathering pitch density and motion, the movement segues into the second section, which depicts the tragic conflict on D-Day, beginning with much motion and counterpoint between the four marimbas. Underlying this agitation in the marimbas are explosive articulations by tom-toms and anvil. The low marimbas settle into an ostinato of running sixteenth notes with the high marimbas playing a haunting motive reminiscent of the bowed bugle calls of the first section. Ensuing is a repetitive and hammered rhythm in the upper marimbas under which the low marimbas allude to the second phrase of the "Star Spangled Banner." The hammered rhythm becomes incessant and finally subsides into a dark and mysterious presentation of the first phrase of "America, the Beautiful" in chorale style. All motion ceases and the final section or epilogue follows. Beginning in a similar fashion to the first section, a sad and plaintive chorale transpires in the marimbas, suggesting the aftermath of this tragic day on June 6, 1944. Motivic remnants of "America, the Beautiful" intercede with the chorale and the work ends on dark dischord over a pedal F-sharp.
Recent Performance
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Angels of the Apocalypse - Percussion Octet
Babylon - Percussion Ensemble
Concertino (Gillingham) - Percussion Quartet; Wind Ensemble
Concerto for Percussion Ensemble (Gillingham) - Percussion Ensemble (13); Piano
Concerto No. 1 for Marimba (Gillingham)
Concerto No. 2 for Marimba (Gillingham)
Concerto for Piano and Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Ensemble
Dance of Redemption - Marimba
Five Fantasies of Natural Origin - Marimba; Flute
Gate to Heaven: Journey of the Soul - Marimba; Percussion Octet
Liturgical Music - Percussion 13
Normandy Beach 1944 - Percussion Sextet
Paschal Dances - Percussion Ensemble (12); Piano
Point of Reckoning - Percussion Nonet
Quintessence (Gillingham) - Multiple Percussion; Brass Quintet; Wind Ensemble
Return to Innocence - Percussion Septet; Choir
Sacrificial Rite - Percussion Quintet
Spiritual Dances - Percussion Quartet; Oboe (Clarinet)
Stained Glass - Percussion Ensemble (11); Piano
Supercell - Percussion Ensemble; Alto Saxophone; Piano
Triplex - Percussion Sextet; Brass Ensemble
Whirlwind - Percussion Octet