Everything Nac

The Wind Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform its first concert of the spring semester at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus. Admission is free.

The concert serves as the final performance of a three-day winter performance and recruiting tour in the Houston area, according to Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA and director of the Wind Ensemble, which will spend Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 performing at Foster, Needville, Dayton, Crosby and The Woodlands high schools.

The first piece on the program, “Fanfare for Full Fathom Five” for brass and percussion by John Mackey, will be conducted by Associate Director of Bands Dr. Dan Haddad. Mackey’s program note states the piece takes its title from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” where Shakespeare’s text refers to a drowning during a storm and shipwreck in water about five fathoms (30 feet) deep. “‘Full fathom five’ is a nautical reference that indicates a placement under a depth of 30 feet of water but is used metaphorically to imply an impossible and unavoidable doom,” the composer writes.

The H. Robert Reynolds transcription of Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 34, No. 14 by Dmitry Shostakovich will be conducted by Assistant Director of Bands Dr. Chris Kaatz. The Twenty-four Preludes for piano were composed in 1932-33, and the Prelude in E-flat minor was one in this set. About his transcription, Reynolds said: “While only 36 measures long, one senses a much more expansive and lengthy composition than its few short minutes reveal.”

SFA faculty members Jacob Walburn on trumpet and JD Salas on tuba will perform with the Wind Ensemble on the first movement from Concerto Doppio per Tromba, Tuba e Orchestra di Fiati by Italian composer Giancarlo Aquilanti. Written in 2017, the double concerto highlights the technical abilities for both soloists and also includes heavy jazz influences.

Another program piece will feature the Wind Ensemble percussion section on “Cabasa!” by University of North Texas percussion professor Mark Ford. The piece is written for five cabasas of different sizes and pitches.

Also on the program is Michael Gandolfi’s “Vientos y Tangos,” commissioned by The Frank L. Battisti 70th Birthday Commission Project and dedicated to Frank Battisti in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of concert wind literature. It was Battisti’s request that Gandolfi write a tango for wind ensemble inspired by the traditional sounds of the bandoneon, violin, piano and contrabass.

The Wind Ensemble will close the concert with Karl King’s “Circus Days March.” King published more than 300 works, 13 of which were considered “gallops,” or circus marches, intended to be played at blazing speeds. “It could be said that King did for the circus march what Sousa did for the patriotic march,” Anglley said.

For additional information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will host the exhibition “Respire” Jan. 25 through March 20 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, SFA’s historic art gallery located in downtown Nacogdoches.

“Respire” features 16 artists working in a variety of different media. Each artist was invited by a member of the faculty of the SFA School of Art. “Faculty invited contemporary artists whose work they find inspiring and interesting,” explained Erik Ordaz, exhibition coordinator for The Cole Art Center. The result, he said, is an exciting, diverse exhibition of emerging and established artists representing many artistic fields and ideas.

“When reflecting on the past two years and how isolated we have become, the word ‘Respire’ came to mind, as an idea … to regain our spirits and keep on moving,” Ordaz said. “During complicated times we tend to rely on the people closest to us, so we as faculty in the School of Art reached out to some of our favorite artists to be part of this group exhibition.”

Exhibiting artists include: Jorge Alegria, Dornith Doherty, Michael Donahue, Timothy Harding, Katy Heinlein, Benito Huerta, Sarah Lasley, Eric McMaster, Brian Molanphy, Mike Morris, Matthew Rangel, Libby Rowe, Terri Sanders, Seylon Stills, Scottland Stout and Nicole Woodard.

“We are excited to use this exhibition as a means of creating exchanges and relationships with artists for future opportunities,” Ordaz said, “and to bring a broad art experience to our students with a selection of two- and three-dimensional artworks, video and installation.”

A reception is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the art center.

Admission to the exhibition and reception, which is sponsored in part by William Arscott, the Friends of the Visual Arts and The Flower Shop, is free. Art center hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call (936) 468-5500.

Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a recital featuring new compositions for the trombone at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The selections on the program are connected to Scott’s position as the director of the International Trombone Festival’s Composers Workshop. Joining her in the performance will be SFA’s Dr. Thomas Nixon and Dr. JD Salas, tuba.

The featured composition is a new sonata called “Golden” by Amy Riebs Mills, who was also a clinician at the 2021 Composers Workshop. “It is a strikingly beautiful composition that takes the listener on an emotional journey from ‘trouble and worry’ through fields of birds to a triumphant end,” Scott said.

“Punched Out” is by Steven Verhelst, who Scott described as “currently one of the trombone’s most important composers. His music is unique and creative with jazz influences,” she said. Verhelst was the featured composer of the Composers Workshop. Scott was also part of a consortium that commissioned “Punched Out,” so it is currently only available to be performed by the consortium participants. Salas, associate professor of tuba, will join Scott in the “lively and fun” performance.

“Bop” by Emma Donkin was one of the winning compositions for the 2021 International Trombone Festival’s Composers Workshop. “It is a really fun piece to play and to listen to,” Scott said. “It includes a swing feel and stomping as well as a slammed keyboard lid. It involves a surprise costume change as well. I promise the evening will be unforgettable.”

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.