Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Winter Concert Program
Winter Concert Program
Winter Concert
Program
Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band
Fire Dance
David Shaffer
Midnight Sky
Brian Balmages
Shepherds Hey
Flutes
Trombones
Baritone Saxophone
Clarinets
Tenor Saxophones
Oboe
French Horns
Trumpets
Brian Balmages
Baritone
Imperium
Michael Sweeney
Alto Saxophones
Percussion
10 Minute Intermission
Jazz Ensemble
Swingin Holiday
Traditional
arr. Ralph Ford
April in Paris
Vernon Duke
arr. Rick Stitzel
Greensleeves
Traditional
arr. Chris Sharp
Jazz Band
Alto Saxophones
Trumpets
Trombones
Tenor Saxophones
Percussion
Piano
Program Notes
Under an Irish Sky - Larry Neeck is a well known modern composer of
concert band and jazz band repertoire. He holds a Bachelor of the Arts
degree in Music from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in
Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. This piece combines two old Irish folk tunes, Slane and Brian Borus March. It
challenges the students to be expressive in their playing; we worked a
lot on musicality with this piece!
Fire Dance - David Shaffer is a highly-sought after conductor,
clinician, and composer born in Columbus, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor
Degree in Music from the Ohio State University and a Masters degree
from Miami University. This piece features our wonderful percussion
section, while challenging the woodwinds with lots of trills and articulations.
Midnight Sky - Brian Balmages, born in 1975, is an award-winning
composer, conductor, and performer. In 2010 he received the Harvey
G. Phillips Award for Compositional Excellence. I chose this piece
because of its intricate textures and lyrical nature which allowed us to
really focus in on breath support.
Shepherds Hey - Percy Aldridge Grainger was born in 1882 in Australia. He became a very well known composer and piano virtuoso upon moving to Europe where he studied both mediums at the Dr. Hoch
Conservatory in Frankfurt. This piece has become a classic in band
repertoire, this version was arranged by Chip De Stefano for beginning
ensembles. Students will encounter this again in years to come!
Incantation and Ritual - This has always been one of my favorite
pieces for beginning bands as it is supported by a driving percussion
part and lots of technical, melodic runs in the woodwinds. Balmages
knows how to write simply, yet captivatingly!