LA LLEGENDA DEL COMTE ARNAU for Wind Band by EDUARDO BETES RIBES (Spain, 1992)
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
[#361] June 22, 2026
Spain | 2024 | Wind Band | Grade 4.5 | 13’ | Symphonic Poem
Premiered by Banda Simfònica de Reus conducted by Joan Ramon Reverté
on July 06, 2025 at Reus, Spain.
This piece is available for purchase at Tot Per l'Aire Ediciones
The Legend of Cound Arnau, by Spanish composer and clarinetist Eduardo Betes Ribes is our Composition of the Week.
The work was premiered on July 6, 2025, by “Banda Simfònica de Reus” in Reus, Spain, conducted by Joan Ramon Reverté.
The music is based on the myth of Count Arnau. The Count is a legendary figure in Catalan folklore, emblematic of the valleys of Ripollès and the Pyrenees. A character who is both noble and cursed, he embodies the myth of the proud lord punished for his excesses, becoming a symbol of the popular memory of medieval Catalonia.
“La llegenda del comte Arnau” received an “Honorary Mention” in the VIII International Composition Prize for Band “Vila de Muro 2024”, with Jose Suñer, Oliver Waespi and Teresa Català in the jury.
The symphonic poem has a duration of around 13 minutes, and it is scored for standard wind band setting, including flugelhorn, double bass and three percussion parts (Suspended Cymbal, Woodblock, Tam-tam, Ratchet, Bass Drum, Toms, Cabasa, Triangle, Tambourine, Marktree, Low Conga, Coconuts, Pair of Cymbals, Snare Drum, Whip).
Eduardo Betes Ribes was born in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. In 2014, he completed his clarinet studies at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo de València. He subsequently earned a master’s degree in Clarinet Performance from the Kunstuniversität Graz (Austria), graduating with the highest distinction, awarded unanimously by the five members of the examination jury.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with prestigious ensembles including the National Orchestra of Spain, the Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra (RTVE), the Municipal Band of Bilbao, and the Madrid Municipal Symphonic Band. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Barcelona Municipal Band.
In 2022, he completed a master’s degree in film Scoring and Music for Audiovisual Media at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC).
As a composer, Eduardo Betes Ribes has received notable recognition. In 2023, he was awarded the Audience Award for Best Original Score at the FX Film Fest for his soundtrack to the short film “Tiet”. The same score was also nominated for Best Original Music in the New Authorship category at the Sitges Film Festival.
He is also the winner of the 10th Josep Maria Lleixà Composition Competition for Symphonic Band, organized by the Catalan Federation of Musical Societies, with his work “Reminiscences”.
Currently, Eduardo combines his work as a clarinetist with the Barcelona Municipal Band with an active career as a composer. His music has been performed internationally and has reached audiences across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Other works for winds include:
• Reminiscences (for Band) (2023)
• Mediterranean Dreams (for Clarinet and Band) (2025)
• Winds of glory (for Band) (2026)
More on Eduardo Betes Ribes
