PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
CONTACT: Christina Madsen (501) 852-2659; chrsitinam@uca.edu
Dr. Ricky Brooks (501) 450-5764; rickyb@uca.edu
October 1, 2015
WIND ENSEMBLE, SYMPHONIC BAND PERFORMANCE SET FOR OCT. 15Ěý
By Kendra Beattie
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY â The University of Central Arkansas Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will host a joint performance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall on the BTĚěĚĂcampus.
The concert will be this semesterâs first performance for the two groups with Wind Ensemble conduction by Director of Bands Ricky Brooks and Symphonic Band conduction by Associate Director of Bands Brantley Douglas. The performance is free and open to the public.
The Symphonic Band will start the concert with the first movement of âThe Lord of the Ringsâ Symphony by Johan de Meij, âSymphonic Songs for Bandâ by Robert Russell Bennett, a setting of Greensleeves by Alfred Reed and âThe Gum-Suckers Marchâ by Percy Grainger.
The first movement of âThe Lord of the Ringsâ is a musical portrait of the wizard Gandalf and his wild ride on his beautiful grey horse Shadowfax.
ââSymphonic Songs for Bandâ is a three-movement work commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi, the national band fraternity,â Douglas said. âWhen Dr. Brooks told me he was going to do a piece commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi, this piece instantly came to mind for me. Itâs one of my all-time favorite pieces.â
Greensleeves is a traditional English folksong rumored to have been composed by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn. This setting by Alfred Reed is recognized as a standard in band literature.
âThe Gum-Suckers Marchâ refers to Australians from the state of Victoria, the home state of Percy Grainger. The leaves of the âgumâ (Eucalyptus) tress are very refreshing to suck in the parching summer weather.
The BTĚěĚĂWind Ensemble will then follow with “The Klaxon March” by Henry Fillmore; “JoyRide” by Mark Markowski; “Longing,” by Anthony O’Toole and “Pagan Dances” by James Barnes.
ââPagan Dances,â in three movements, is our most challenging one,â Brooks said. âIt was commissioned by the BTĚěĚĂKappa Kappa Psi Chapter and [former] Director of Bands Russell Langston in 1987. âLongingâ is a beautiful piece transcribed from a choral setting. âJoyRideâ is a new, fanfare-style piece incorporating Beethoven’s âOde to Joyâ [and] âThe Klaxonâ is a circus-tempo march.â
During one movement from âPagan Dances,â first-chair flutist Kayla Copeland will perform an extended flute solo.
The BTĚěĚĂWind Ensemble will have its second concert of the semester on Dec. 1. The ensemble will also perform at the BTĚěĚĂBand Extravaganza concert on Dec. 3.
The BTĚěĚĂCollege of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Communication, Mass Communication and Theatre, Music and Writing. The collegeâs primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit www.uca.edu/cfac or call (501) 450-3293.
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