In 1920, Miss Branscombe completed Pilgrims of Destiny, an oratorio based on the Mayflower pilgrims’ arrival in November 1620. Eight years later, the National League of American Pen Women awarded this work their national Best Composition award, and a gala performance took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts, as part of the national convention of the National Federation of Music Clubs. In 1960, for its patriotic subject matter and for the many awards it had received, the Music Department of the Library of Congress requested Miss Branscombe’s original orchestral score.
In 2019, a complete performing edition of the work was completed, and Pilgrims of Destiny received its 21st-century premiere at Clark University in front of hundreds of people, including many of Gena’s family members.
Pilgrims of Destiny is now available for rental and public performance. All proceeds go directly to The Gena Branscombe Project, helping to fund future performances and to grow our scholarships.
If you are interested in performing Gena Branscombe’s Pilgrims of Destiny, please inquire below.