Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stone Fort Wind Quintet at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform works by Endre Szervánszky, Marc Mellits and Arne Running when the faculty ensemble presents a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The quintet is comprised of Dr. Christina Guenther, flute; Dr. Christopher Ayer, clarinet; Dr. Cody Hunter, bassoon; Dr. Jenna Sehmann, oboe; and Dr. Andrea Denis, horn.
The first half of the concert will feature Wind Quintet No. 1 by Hungarian composer Szervánszky.
“It’s a big work in a neo-romantic style composed of four movements in standard form,” Ayer explained. “Szervánszky was influenced by his fellow Hungarian composers, Kodály and Bartók, and this quintet shows off each instrument in the quintet very effectively.”
The concert also features the work “Apollo” by Marc Mellits. “Apollo” was commissioned by and dedicated to the Houston-based wind quintet Windsync, and was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, July, 1969. It is comprised of seven short movements framing a suite of colors and interstellar sounds.
“Mellits uses minimalistic techniques in much of his music that provide sound waves that wash over the audience, changing shapes slowly and gradually,” according to Ayer.
The concert will conclude with “Aria and Quodlibet” by Arne Running. “The work features a beautiful opening aria for quintet, followed by a humorous quodlibet, which is a pastiche of famous melodies from music history,” Ayer said.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit the box office website. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.