Composer John Craton, a native of Anniston, Alabama, began his musical career with the violin at age 10 and later studied piano and composition. He played with the Jacksonville State University string orchestra while still in high school, and also the JSU string trio and woodwind quintet. He began accepting private students in 1971 and has taught both violin and piano in Alabama, Tennessee, and Indiana. He received his B.A. from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee; M.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington; and Au.D. from the Audiology Foundation of America. Since 2002, Craton has focused on teaching and composition. He currently resides in Indiana.
This digital collection was provided through the generous donation and permission of the composer. Other compositions by Dr. Craton can be found in the Library's Alabama Gallery Special Collections.
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Orchestral Compositions | Beowulf: The Orchestral Suite
John Craton
The music is designed to convey a medieval flavor while incorporating modern harmonies for programmatic effect. Each movement presents a musical portrait of episodes from the epic tale.
