NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the SFA Wind Ensemble in its final concert of the semester at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.
The featured work on the program will be "Sinfonia in B-flat" by Amilcare Ponchielli, an Italian composer best known for his orchestral favorite "Dance of the Hours," explained Fred J. Allen, SFA director of bands and the Wind Ensemble's director.
Another highlight will be a pair of works for wind septet: Gabriel Pierne's "Preludio and Fughetta" and Percy Grainger's "Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon," which features seven saxophones, including the recently purchased bass saxophone.
"A group of seven players is not as common to see on the concert stage as a quartet, trio, or even an octet," said Allen.
Kenny Peters, Bellville graduate student, will conduct another of Grainger's works, "Shepherd's Hey," and Ronnie Pruitt, Hemphill graduate student, will lead the ensemble in performing Frank Ticheli's "Blue Shades."
The SFA Wind Ensemble was part of a consortium of schools that commissioned "Blue Shades" in 1994. Since that time, it has become a standard in the wind band concert repertoire, explained Allen.
The band will also play "Chester" by Pulitzer Prize winner William Schuman and "Mother of Earth" by American composer David Maslanka.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!