The Stephen F. Austin State University Symphonic Band and University Band present their last concert of the semester at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in Cole Concert Hall.
A presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music, “Classics to Modern” features music ranging from Baroque to contemporary, according to Dr. David Campo, associate director of bands at SFA.
The University Band, directed by Campo and graduate conductors Lucas Halley of Lockhart and Dwight Watson of Lavon, will begin the concert with Andrew Boysen’s “Kirkpatrick Fanfare.”
“This is an exciting work featuring driving rhythms and brilliant brass flourishes culminating in a powerful chorale setting of the Celtic favorite, ‘Danny Boy,’” Campo said.
The University Band will also perform David Gilligham’s “Time’s Uncertain Wing,” which was commissioned to commemorate two young men whose lives were cut tragically short, and Frank Ticheli’s “Fortress,” which has an unusual and inherently unstable tonal language, giving the piece “a strong sense of foreboding, while the evocative rhythm lends an air of dominating strength,” Campo said. The University Band will conclude its portion of the concert with Brian Balmages’ “March Diabolique.”
The SFA Symphonic Band, directed by Tamey Anglley, assistant director of bands at SFA, will begin the second half of the concert with “Overture for Winds” by American composer Charles Carter.
The second piece features SFA flute professor Dr. Christina Guenther performing “Baroque Variations for Flute and Band” by Marin Marais. This specific setting is by SFA Director of Bands Fred J. Allen. Anglley explains that Marais performed on and composed for the viola da gamba, a forerunner of the modern cello. He wrote a set of variations for solo gamba using an old tune “Les Folies d’Espagne” and later transcribed it for flute.
The Symphonic Band will also perform the multi-movement “Candide Suite” by Leonard Bernstein and transcribed by Clare Grundman.
“The suite for concert band is made up of five numbers from the musical ‘Candide,’ which premiered on Broadway in 1956,” Anglley said. “‘Candide’ as a musical has since had many reincarnations, but the sections of this suite utilize musical numbers that have remained virtually unchanged from the original Broadway production.”
The concert will conclude with John Philip Sousa’s “The Liberty Bell” march.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.
