Reflections on Francis McBeth

   Over the month of January, I have been listening to many of my favorite Francis McBeth compositions to grieve his passing and reflect upon how much he influenced my life and the lives of so many musicians in the past 50 years.
   The recording of Masque by the Texas Tech University Band (McBeth Conducts McBeth) carried me back to a proud moment in my life. In 1967 when I was a fledgling bassoonist in the University of Central Arkansas band, Francis McBeth was commissioned by the college president to write music for the dedication of the fine arts building. For most of us in the band, this was our first experience playing a commissioned piece.
    Our director, Homer Brown, invited Dr. McBeth to rehearse our band in preparation for the premiere of Masque. Many band members had performed his compositions in high school, and because he was from Arkansas some had even worked with him previously. Nonetheless, we all knew his reputation, his fame preceded him, so we were a little nervous before the rehearsal. To our surprise he came into the band room smiling and quickly put us at ease. I’ve always remembered that he told us to think of his music as a Baptist Ben-Hur racing his chariot, and the interpretation would be right.
   It was truly an inspiring rehearsal – fast, witty, and insightful. Dr. McBeth never let down his musical standards, but all the time was steadily raising ours. After the rehearsal, my girlfriend told excited stories about how she played second trombone in the second all-district band McBeth had guest conducted in 1965. She was touched by his ability to awaken a love of music in students of all ability levels. As a shy, hesitant musician she had experienced the thrill of being a part of an exciting musical performance. (Yes, we married, and another treasure we just listened to is her 1965 recording from that district contest playing Reflections Past.) 
    Francis McBeth touched so many lives. As a band director I witnessed the popularity of his music. I read his helpful articles in The Instrumentalist and highlighted nearly every word of his trustworthy handbook, Effective Performance of Band Music. One year at a state competition in Missouri, he conducted my Cassville High School band in a rehearsal of Rossini’s Italian in Algiers Overture. His rehearsal techniques were amazing as he quickly got the band to sound like an Italian opera orchestra. His witty comments – “put more lasagna in your sound,” “let it sparkle like Italian wine,” and “make the sauce a little thicker here” – reappear in my own rehearsals like a treasured recipe.
   I am honored that I felt myself a lifelong friend to Francis McBeth. During my years at Oberlin Conservatory, I was always happy to meet with him at conventions, clinics, and at the Midwest. We shared Arkansas connections, and I revered him as a teacher and colleague. The syllabus for my instrumental music class carries his succinct quote: “Know your stuff. Know whom you’re stuffing. Then stuff them in sequence.” That is a superb and practical bit of educational philosophy.
   McBeth was truly a Renaissance man: a respected clinician, lecturer, author, conductor, composer, and great music educator. He was perhaps the most altruistic musician I’ve ever known. So many times his warm and natural words opened minds, hearts, and spirits to the excitement of electrifying music. All of us were truly blessed to have known him over the years. The band world is a better place because of Francis McBeth.
  Thanks Mac for your music, inspiration, and kindness. You will be deeply missed.