The 50-member West Virginia University Wind Symphony, a select group of the finest wind and percussion performers within WVU, will present a concert at the Creative Arts Center, Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Theatre and is a ticketed event. For tickets and information, call (304) 293-SHOW.
The Wind Symphony is conducted by John Hendricks III along with Dearl J. Drury. Hendricks serves as director of bands for the School of Music and assistant dean of recruiting and retention for the College of Creative Arts. Drury is assistant director of bands at WVU and is the director of the WVU Marching Band, the Basketball Pep Band, the Symphonic Band and the Concert Band.
The program includes:
“Frenergy” by John Estacio/transcribed by Fraser Linklater – A 1998 orchestra work by Canadian composer John Estacio that was transcribed in 2011 for band by Fraser Linklater. The combination of “frantic” and “energy” in the work’s title speaks to the nature and verve as any worded description could.
“Toccata Marziale” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the central figures of British music. His “Toccata Marziale” was composed in 1924 and has become a popular standard in the band repertoire. It is an excellent example of superb scoring exploiting the sonorities of the wind band.
“Sunrise at Angel’s Gate” by Philip Sparke – A piece that depicts one of the most glorious moments in nature: the rising of the sun over Angel’s Gate, one of the many named rock formations of the Grand Canyon. The piece depicts the sights and sounds of a dawn morning, but also the hustle and bustle when all the tourist buses arrive.
“Olympia Hippodrome March” by Russell Alexander – This classic circus march was composed while Alexander was a member of the Barnum and Bailey Circus band, and it has been a staple of mature bands for more than a century. The name derives from the arena built for chariot races and athletic contests in Olympia, Greece, in 776 B.C.
“Outdoor Overture” by Aaron Copland, who composed the orchestra version in 1938 as part of a campaign to foster “American music for American youth.” The band version was completed in 1941. The piece is primarily composed for indoor performances; the “outdoor” title refers to the spacious chordal writing, implying that very high and very low sonorities are present throughout.
“Gazebo Dances” by John Corigliano – The title “Gazebo Dances” was suggested by the pavilions often seen on village greens in towns throughout the countryside, where public band concerts were given on summer evenings. A Rossini-like Overture begins the work, followed by a rather peg-legged waltz, then a long-lined adagio, and finally a bouncy tarantella.
“March from Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber” by Paul Hindemith/ transcribed by Keith Wilson – Originally conceived as ballet music, the “Symphonic Metamorphosis” evolved into a four-movement orchestral suite. Hindemith asked his Yale colleague, Keith Wilson, to complete the band transcription of the final movement, March, which is based primarily on a brass two-bar opening statement.
The Wind Symphony performs at a near-professional level, rehearsing three days a week and presenting four to five concerts each year which feature the finest traditional and contemporary wind literature. Over the past years, the ensemble has premiered many new compositions, while maintaining a solid connection with traditional and historical wind repertoire. Membership is open to all WVU students, by audition.
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cl/10/04/13
CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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