VIDEO PODCAST: John Dante Prevedini leads a discussion about The Creative Spark, including contributions from Ryan Ash, Sean Neukom, Adrian Rumson, Stephen Francis Vasta, David Arditti, Halida Dinova and Andrew Arceci.
ECHOES OF OBLIVION: Between August 2022 and May 2023, Robert McCarney's regular series featured little-known twentieth century classical composers.
American composer William Francis McBeth was born in Texas on 9 March 1933, and studied piano and trumpet. At Hardin-Simmons University he played in the wind band, travelling with the band to Europe, and played string bass in a jazz combo.
He is known for his works for wind band, which form the majority of his output, but he also wrote four symphonies and other orchestral music. His many awards include the Presley Award at Hardin-Simmons University and the Howard Hanson Prize at the Eastman School of Music for his Symphony No 3.
McBeth died in Arkadelphia on 6 January 2012, aged 78.