Beowulf: A Musical Tale is Kay’s Masters Thesis. Completed in 2004, the piece was premiered at the Spartanburg Philharmonic’s annual Children’s Concert in the spring of that year.

Kay worked with Professor Natalie Grinnell and his brother Ian on a translation and adaptation that was brief yet accurate. Rather than focusing on the story of Grendel, they chose to work with the third part of the epic poem - the story of the dragon and Beowulf’s demise.

Since he wrote for children (in this case ages 10-12 years old), Kay chose to reference many familiar and unfamiliar works, ranging from Holst’s Jupiter (from The Planets) to Danny Elfman’s soundtrack for "Sleepy Hollow," and from Stravinsky’s Firebird to Howard Shore’s soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings," in an effort to both draw his audience in and expose them to important, historical works.

Similarly his use of a narrator to tell an abbreviated version of the poem (somewhat like Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf), exposes the audience to a story they may not have heard before. The book is required reading for most students in that area, however, so they will undoubtedly experience it later in their educational life.

for more information about Beowulf visit these sites:
www.Georgetown.edu
Original Text
www.uky.edu
Wikipedia.org

Long ago, in the far north, when nights were lit only by the moon and the stars, Hrothgar, king of the Danes, built a great hall of ash and oak. Its name was Heorot taller than any hall in Denmark. Warriors gathered there to eat and drink, to sing of old legends and ancestors gone.

But outside in the darkness lurked the evil creature Grendel. The sound of harps echoing from the hall maddened Grendel, and for this he hated the Danes. Slipping into the hall in the dead of night, the monster fell upon the sleeping soldiers, biting and tearing devouring them one by one.

For twelve years after, the hall stood silent and empty. No warriors, no soldiers, no one could rid the hall of the beast.

Until one day, a man arrived from Geatland - Beowulf, son of Edgtheow.

On the night of his arrival, gallant Beowulf fought the monster. Struggling until the sun again rose to brighten the world, Beowulf kept the beast at bay. At last, with a mighty effort, Beowulf tore Grendel's arm from his body, leaving him to die. Beowulf became a hero, and was crowned king of the Geats. For fifty years his rule was just and strong, and the people of Geatland were happy.

II. THE DRAGON

All were happy, all but one. That one was a thief, a man consumed by greed. He had heard the story of a treasure, of heaps of gold buried beneath the earth. Long and hard he looked for these riches. Until one day, deep in the bowels of a dark cave, he discovered the glowing hoard. The thief crept in and picked up the very best piece he could find: a shining cup.

But the treasure was cursed. Long ago, an old tribesman had buried it where the earth could hold it forever underground. And there, to protect the gold, lived a dragon, huge and cunning. It guarded the treasure closely. It knew every piece, every coin, and it knew that the cup was gone.

Beating its great wings, the dragon rose from the earth, terrible black smoke spewing from its nostrils. A savage red fury gleamed in its eyes as it followed the thief. When they came to Beowulf's kingdom, the dragon descended upon Geatland, thrashing the air and shrieking in revenge. With fire and rage it fell upon the town and its people, burning all to the ground.

III. THE BATTLE

Beowulf, now old and grey, heard the coming of the dragon, but his heart did not fail. He remembered the battles of his youth. He remembered defeating Grendel at Hearot, and the glory and honor that came from combat. He, the king, would save his people from the dragon.

He armed himself with sword and shield, ordering his warriors not to come between him and the dragon.

Angling his shield, he stepped forward to meet the dragon as it came. The shield, \softline however, was wooden, and the scorching flame of the winged worm rent it from Beowulf's arm.

Wiglaf, Beowulf's nephew, came running forward. He carried a great bronze shield that could not be burned. He and Beowulf crouched behind it, waiting for the dragon to circle for its next attack. The warriors of Geatland, seeing their king in great peril, released a great volley of arrows upon the dragon. The steel scales were impenetrable, though, leaving the king and his nephew alone. The town was decimated, the people either killed or run away. There was little left to destroy. In a slow, menacing swoop, the giant serpent moved back towards the two lone warriors. Its fiery maw wide and cruel wings flapping, it came down upon them. Beowulf, his heart still young in his old body, stabbed uselessly at the dragon. A cruel smile creased the hideous face of the creature, and with its razor-like talons it slashed at the old king, wounding him badly.

Wiglaf leapt up to defend his uncle, swinging his blade in righteous anger. He pierced the dragon's foot, and when the beast looked down at him, Beowulf jumped up and ran it through with his sword. The blood-red eyes went wide, and a tortured scream echoed from the depths of its belly, deafening them both. A moment later the sound died down, and the beast slowly collapsed, moving no more.

IV. THE FUNERAL

Beowulf had vanquished the enemy of Geatland. He had saved his people from the \softline terrible serpent. But the dragon's claws had cut too deep, and the battle would be his last. Weeping, Wiglaf had the people spread the great treasure before Beowulf. The old king smiled before he died.

The gold was beautiful, bright and gleaming, but Wiglaf could not bear to look at it. With his own hands he piled dry wood upon it, and high atop the hoard he placed the body of the great king. A torch was brought to Wiglaf, who touched it to the funeral pier, setting it ablaze.

Twelve warriors, witnesses to the strength and valor of their dead captain, rode in circles around the funeral fire. A single maiden came forward to sing of Beowulf, greatest of lords. Beowulf was the last king of the Geats, and he was a good king.