MONSTERS (of the Sacred Grove) Figures in the hidden garden of the Duke Orsini of Bomarzo for Wind Orchestra by STEPHEN McNEFF (Ireland, 1951)

WASBE Marcom
2 days ago
3 min read

[#338] Jan 12, 2026

Premiered by Central Band of the Royal Air Force conducted by Chris l'Anson

on April 25, 2025 at Regent Hall, London

This piece is available for purchase at Maecenas

Monsters (of the Sacred Grove) by Irish composer Stephen McNeff is our Composition of the Week.

Monters, who bears the subtitle “Figures in the hidden garden of the Duke Orsini of Bomarzo” was commissioned in 2024 by the Royal Air Force Music Services (UK) in collaboration with the United States Air Force Band, Washingtong D.C. the United States Air Force Band in Europe and the Lufwaffenmusikkorps, Münster (GER).

The premiere performance was given by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force with guest musicians from the United States Air Force Band Europe and the Luftwaffenmusikkorps, Münter, on the 25 April, 2025, at the Regent Hall, London, conducted by Squadron Leader, Chris l’Anson.

“The Garden of Bomarzo was created by Duke Pier Francesco Orsini, patron of the arts, during the mid-16th century to cope with his grief upon the death of his wife Giulia Farnese. The design of this mysterious fantasy world is attributed to the architect Pirro Ligorio, with sculptures by Simone Moschino. Known as the Park of Monsters, it is situated in a wooded valley beneath the castle of Orsini in Bomarzo, near Rome in Italy. The par kwas not intended to please, but to astonish, and like many Mannerist works stems from the many larger that life grotesque sculptures and small buildings located amongst the natural vegetation. During the 19th and early 20th centuries the gardens fell into neglected and became wildly overgrown until being brought to wider attention again in 1938 bu the surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí. A restoration programme was implemented which was completed in the 1970s. Today the garden is a major tourist attraction. The nine movements that form “Monsters” depict both the romance and strangeness of the garden and the sculptures hewn out of the volcanic rock, thus offering a musical glimpse into a fantastic world that was hidden for so long.” Program Notes by Stephen McNeff

The nine movements of Monsters are:

1. Into the Sacred Grove; 2. The Three Graces; 3. Pegasus the Winged Horse; 4. The Orcus; 5. The Wrestling Giants; 6. The Sleeping Nymph; 7. The Lions Battle the Dragon; 8. The Leaning House; 9. The Temple of Eternity.

Monsters is scored for standard symphonic band instrumentation, including String Bass and four percussion parts. It has a total duration of 24 minutes, and it is available at Maecenas.

Stephen McNeff was born in Ireland and grew up in South Wales, where his inspirational teacher awoke an interest in music. After studying composition at the Royal Academy of Music, his career started by working in theatres throughout Britain, followed by a period in Canada where his posts included composer-in-residence at the Banff Centre. Recognition came steadily; until the early 2000s McNeff’s name would be known mainly in theatre circles through his film noir operatic version of The Wasteland (1994), his many scores for the Unicorn Theatre (including a highly successful Beatrix Potter Suite in 2002), or among windband fraternities for Ghosts (2001). However, from the première of his opera for young people Clockwork in 2004, based on Philip Pullman’s book, at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, and his appointment the following year to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as the first Royal Philharmonic Society/Performing Right Society Foundation Composer in the House, his reputation has gone from strength to strength.

Other Works for Winds include:

• Clarinet Concerto

• Concerto for Flute and Wind Orchestra

• Don Not Go Gentle

• Ghosts

• Image in Stone (Mezzo Soprano and Wind Ensemble)

• Wasteland Music 1 and 2