Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The ¾¨Ó㴫ý Wind Ensemble presents Masque, a "Celebration of Wind Music," Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.
This concert marks yet another wonderful cultural event right here in the Lawrence and Mercer County area. It is one of our goals at ¾¨Ó㴫ý to present outstanding musical events for the area. We hope that the community will join us in our numerous celebrations of music and the arts. We are extremely proud of the talent that we have here, and the students enjoy sharing their love of music," according to Dr. R. Tad Greig, ¾¨Ó㴫ý director of instrumental activities and assistant professor of music.
"The Wind Ensemble is a select group chosen through audition at the beginning of each year," Greig said. "This year the Wind Ensemble was a guest performer at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State conference and just returned from a 14-day, nine-performance concert tour, along with the College Concert Choir. This ensemble performs the finest repertoire for winds and percussion. Featured artists in this concert will be the ¾¨Ó㴫ý Faculty Woodwind and Brass Quintets. We are fortunate to have such wonderful applied faculty at ¾¨Ó㴫ý. This concert gives us an opportunity to share them with the community and the campus.
"The repertoire for this concert includes a stunning composition, challenging every member of the ensemble. This work was published in 2001 by British composer Kenneth Hesketh titled Masque. In contrast, is a haunting work pitting the forces of good against evil by Japanese composer Yo Goto titled Lux Aeterna. The ensemble also performs A Shortcut Home by American composer and composition professor at Ithaca College, Dana Wilson, and one of the most endearing folk melodies, set beautifully by William Hines and arranged for Wind Ensemble by Louis Maldanado, Amazing Grace.
"The Faculty Brass Quintet performs Tangents by American composer John Wasson. This work is very enjoyable to listen to and demonstrates the virtuosity of the brass faculty at ¾¨Ó㴫ý. The faculty woodwind quintet will perform three movements of the Concerto for Woodwind Quintet and Wind Symphony by famed band composer Robert Russell Bennett. This particular work was one of the famed commissions brought to life by Pittsburgh's own American Wind Symphony, under the direction of Mr. Robert Boudreau. As with Tangents, there is virtuosic playing by both faculty and student musicians."
This event is free and open to the public. Contact Greig at (724) 946-7279 or e-mail greigrt@westminster.edu for more information.
