The East Central University Symphonic Band and the Wind Ensemble will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday [MARCH 8] in the Ataloa Theatre in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. Dr. Allen Correll conducts both groups.
The Symphonic Band will open with 鈥淎n Irish Rhapsody鈥� by Clare Grundman, a setting that contains six songs of Ireland, including the typical jig tune 鈥淪hepherd鈥檚 Lamb Reel鈥� and the popular 鈥淐ockles and Mussels.
鈥� Next will be 鈥淢ichael Jackson: Through the Years,鈥� arranged in 2009 by Michael Brown. The setting for concert band displays the variety and depth of music spanning Jackson鈥檚 career from his early days with the Jackson 5 through his association with Quincy Jones. Included are 鈥淚 Want You Back,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檒l Be There,鈥� 鈥淩ock With You,鈥� 鈥淭hriller鈥� and 鈥淢an in the Mirror.鈥�
Two guests will play trombone with the Wind Ensemble, retired band directors Dean Coale and Frank Zugelder. Zugelder also is the director of 成人B站鈥檚 Brass Choir.
The Wind Ensemble will perform the 鈥淢arch鈥� from 鈥淪ymphonic Metamorphosis鈥� by Paul Hindemith and transcribed for concert band by Keith Wilson. Its form is somewhat different from that of a standard march.
Dr. Steven Walker, 成人B站 professor of music, will sing the tenor solo as the Wind Ensemble plays 鈥淏ell-Piece鈥� (Ramble on John Dowland鈥檚 鈥淣ow, O now I needs must part鈥�), with Rudy Lupinski on piano. It is based partly on Grainger鈥檚 piano solo transcription of the same Dowland melody. In terms of harmony, this Ramble is considered to be one of Grainger鈥檚 finest achievements.
In the version for voice and wind band he added a 鈥渢ail-piece鈥� which calls for an independent 鈥渂ell鈥� part, written for his wife Ella to play at various performances. During his last years, Correll said, Grainger would sing this song every night before going to bed.
The Wind Ensemble will close with 鈥淕host Train鈥� by Eric Whitacre.
鈥淭he legend of the Ghost Train, a supernatural machine that roars out of the night through forgotten towns and empty canyons, is deeply rooted in American folklore, and it was this spirit I worked to capture,鈥� Whitacre has written.
The piece depicts a steam engine train coming to a roaring halt and the passengers departing at the station before building up steam and slowly and gracefully departing. Then, the train blazes across the countryside, 鈥渕oonlight glistening off its dark steel,鈥� and ends with a final, heroic tribute to trains and the people who worked them.
# # #