Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the concert program "Journeys" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.
The Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Tamey Anglley, associate director of bands at SFA, and the Symphonic Band, directed by Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands, will perform works that represent various types of journeys.
The Symphonic Band will open the concert with Charles Carter's "Overture for Winds," followed by Frank Ticheli's "Earth Song."
The Symphonic Band will also perform Jan Van der Roost's "Suite Provençale," which Kaatz describes as "a musical journey through southeastern France via colorful settings of four folk songs native to the region."
The first half of the concert closes with the Symphonic Band performing Karl King's "Hosts of Freedom," which was written the same year the famous march composer moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa, after years of conducting numerous circus bands.
The Wind Symphony will open the second half of the concert with "Shortcut Home" by Dana Wilson. Written in 2003, Wilson wanted a rousing and elaborate fanfare that featured each section of the ensemble, according to Anglley.
"Drawing upon various jazz styles, the music proclaims and cascades, always driving towards the 'home' of the final C major chord," she explained.
Dr. Christopher Ayer, professor of clarinet in the School of Music, will perform a solo on the clarinet concerto "Auto '66" by James M. David. About the piece, the composer writes: "The automobile, perhaps more than any other piece of technology, inspires strong emotional reactions in people, and certain cars seem to transcend their role as means of transportation to become works of art. My clarinet concerto is about three such vehicles that were built in 1966. They were chosen for their historical significance, physical beauty and ability to inspire their owners. Further, all three cars have different national origins, which allowed me to draw from the native music for each." David chose Lamborghini Miura, Mini Cooper S and Pontiac GTO as the three movements for his concerto.
The Wind Symphony will close the concert with John Philip Sousa's "From Maine to Oregon" march. Based on the recurring march theme from his operetta, "The American Maid (The Glass Blowers)," "From Maine to Oregon" was composed in 1913.
The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.