The Washington Wind Symphony presents “From Bach to Rock” on Sunday, March 10th!
Are you ready for a fun afternoon of musical contrasts at Robertson Performing Arts Center in Redmond? Our music director Jacob Scherr has tapped his extensive knowledge of the wind band repertoire to create a melodious performance of instrumental feats you won’t soon forget. The concert starts at 2:00 pm pDt (note that this is the same day you need to set your clocks forward an hour!) You’ll hear:
“Toccata and Fugue in D minor” by Johann Sebastian Bach (trans. Ryan Nowlin) – You’ll instantly recognize this audience favorite, Nowlin’s inspired arrangement for band. Having heard this masterpiece in a diverse variety of films, you may be reminded of the 1940 Disney animated classic, “Fantasia.” Or, a classic horror movie may come to mind, including “Phantom of the Opera” and “Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.” Whatever picture is sparked by your aural memory, you’re sure to humming Bach’s famous theme long after you leave the concert.
“In evening’s stillness…” by Joseph Schwantner – Both a delicate and dynamic composition, this piece was commissioned by the Illinois College Band Directors Association in 1996, and premiered at the Midwest Music Educators National Conference convention in Peoria, Illinois. As with Schwanter’s previous two works for wind ensemble, he says In Evening’s Stillness… was inspired by poetry:
“In evening’s stillness a gentle breeze, distant thunder encircles the silence.”
Schwantner’s compositional career has been marked by many awards, grants, and fellowships, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for his orchestral composition “Aftertones of Infinity” and several Grammy nominations.
“Run to the Light” by Ivan Trevino – If you enjoy the variety and exciting vibrations only possible with a full band percussion section, this piece is designed for you! Commissioned by the Eastman Wind Ensemble in 2022, the composer dedicated “Run to the Light” to “a thousand or so very special people in Victoria, Texas.” Ivan Trevino, 41, is a Mexican-American composer, percussionist, writer, and arts advocate. He has composed over 70 works for percussion and won numerous Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest awards. Trevino currently serves as lecturer in percussion at University of Texas at Austin, and is co-director of the Eastman Percussion Festival, a biennial summer festival hosted by Eastman School of Music.
“Until the Scars” by John Mackey – An adaptation of the opening movement to Mackey’s full symphony for band titled “Wine-Dark Sea,” the composer drew inspiration for this work from Homer’s tale of Odysseus. Enjoy Mackey’s dynamic interpretation of this epic story as the Greek King and his marauding crew triumphantly celebrate their victory over the Trojans, only to meet disaster at sea.
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Johann Sebastian Bach (arr. Alfred Reed) – With a background which boasted approximately 200 musical ancestors, it’s not surprising that Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) developed a keen interest in music at an early age. He mastered the violin and clavier and devoted himself to the study and mastery of the organ. As court organist in the town of Arnstadt at the age of eighteen, Bach became interested in composition, devoting every leisure moment to improving his skills. During his lifetime, Bach was more famous as an organist and court musician than as a composer. His works were largely unknown until rediscovered some eighty years after his death. We are fortunate to enjoy them now as his legacy.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Freddie Mercury (arr. Masamicz Amano) – Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, Mercury referred to “Bohemian Rhapsody” as a “mock opera” that resulted from the combination of three songs he had written. It was recorded by his band, Queen, at five studios between August-September, 1975. Due to recording logistics of the era, the band had to bounce the tracks across eight generations of 24-track tape, resulting in nearly 200 tracks for overdubs. The song parodies elements of opera with bombastic choruses, sarcastic recitative, and distorted Italian operatic phrases. You’ll love this fantastic wind band arrangement!
Come join us for this unique assemblage of classical-to-modern wind band music! Be sure to buy tickets in advance, or go to our website to reserve your comfortable seat in the Robertson Performing Arts Center. Be sure to visit any of our social media pages to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread the word!
Adults: $15.00 | Senior: $10.00 | Students/Youth: FREE
Location:
Robertson Performing Arts Center @ Redmond High School
17272 NE 104th St, Redmond, WA 98052
