Pastorale on "Rocking" (2010)

Edward W. Beals (1933–2015) — Pastorale on “Rocking” (2010) for organ

American composer and organist Edward W. Beals (1933–2015) was born in Wichita, Kansas and received degrees from Earlham College (biology), and the University of Wisconsin (MS and PhD in ecology). He was a member of the zoology and botany faculty of the University of Wisconsin for more than 28 years. He also maintained activities as organist and composer. In 1984, he won a competition sponsored by the British magazine “Musical Opinion” for a work in honor of Frescobaldi’s 400th birthday. As a lifelong Quaker, Beals was sentenced to two years in prison (of which he served one) in the 1950s for being a contentious objector and refusing to register for the USA military draft. Beals composed a very large number of works for organ, though much of his work was accidentally destroyed after his death.

Published by Darcey Press in “20 Christmas Pastorales”