Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform “The Music of Omar Thomas,” part of a two-concert series featuring the music of lauded composer in residence Omar Thomas, assistant professor of composition and jazz studies at The University of Texas at Austin.
The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in Turner Auditorium in Griffith Fine Arts Building. Thomas will complete a residency at SFA that will culminate in a Wind Ensemble concert on Oct. 17. He will not be in attendance at the Oct. 24 concert.
“During his time on campus, Thomas will work with all three concert bands who will be collectively preparing the majority of his existing compositional output for their medium,” Dr. Dan Haddad, associate director of bands, said. “In addition to both ensembles performing works by Thomas, both groups are performing pieces that share a connection to our renowned guest.”
Under the direction of Dr. Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands at SFA, the Symphonic Band will perform Thomas’s “Shenandoah.” In the composer’s words, “This arrangement recalls the beauty of Shenandoah Valley, not bathed in golden sunlight, but blanketed by low-hanging clouds and experiencing intermittent periods of heavy rainfall (created with a combination of percussion textures, generated both on instruments and from the body). This arrangement of ‘Shenandoah’ is at times mysterious, somewhat ominous, constantly introspective and deeply soulful.”
The Symphonic Band concludes the first half with a piece by Thomas’ friend and colleague, Viet Cuong. These composers are members of the Blue Dot Collective, a group of seven young composers committed to creating quality works for wind ensembles of all ability levels. Both Thomas’ “Shenandoah” and Cuong’s “Diamond Tide” are examples of the Blue Dot Collective’s contributions of artistically rich works achievable for mid-level concert bands. “Diamond Tide” evokes the image of melting diamonds, using a variety of novel techniques including glissandos via water-dipped crotales and pitch-bending crystal goblets.
Under the direction of Haddad, the Wind Symphony will feature SFA saxophone Professor Dr. Bob Eason on Kevin Day’s “Unquiet Waters.” Written originally for piano and solo alto saxophone, this new arrangement for wind ensemble utilizes the unique colors of band instruments while supporting and complementing the virtuosic saxophone solo.
The Wind Symphony will conclude its performance with Thomas’s beautiful and haunting “Of Our New Day Begun.” Thomas writes, “This piece was written to honor nine beautiful souls who lost their lives to a callous act of hatred and domestic terrorism on the evening of June 17, 2015, while worshipping in their beloved sanctuary, the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (affectionately referred to as “Mother Emanuel”) in Charleston, South Carolina. My greatest challenge in creating this work was walking the line between reverence for the victims and their families, and honoring my strong, bitter feelings toward both the perpetrator and the segments of our society that continue to create people like him. I realized that the most powerful musical expression I could offer incorporated elements from both sides of that line – embracing my pain and anger while being moved by the displays of grace and forgiveness demonstrated by the victims’ families.”
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.