Celebrate and Serenade with HSU Symphonic Band

A Jubilee, a chorale, a serenade and music for a fiesta comprise the program for the HSU Symphonic Band spring concert on Friday, April 27, with HSU Assistant Professor Paul Cummings conducting.

The Band begins with “Jubilee Overture” by contemporary concert and brass band composer Phillip Sparke. This overture was composed for the 50th anniversary of a British band, and first performed in 1983. As Sparke describes it: “The work opens with a two-part fanfare…A lively allegro follows, with many changes of meter and a robust tune from the horns and saxophones…”

“Canterbury Chorale” is by contemporary Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost, who has written over 90 works, primarily for wind orchestras but also for choir.

As a teacher at Julliard, Vincent Perschetti taught many prominent contemporary composers, including Philip Glass. As a composer and one of the major figures in 20th century American music, Perschetti wrote symphonies, string quartets, a concerto, an opera and many works for piano, as well as being a major composer for wind bands. He is known for merging influences as diverse as modernists Stravinsky and Copland with the Big Band sound. On the program tonight is his “Serenade for Band,” one of 15 serenades he wrote for various combinations of instruments, including for a string trio and for dual pianos.

The Symphonic Band’s spring concert concludes with a three movement work for band, La Fiesta Mexicana , the most famous and most often played composition by American composer H. Owen Reed. This work is based on Aztec and mariachi music, as well as Roman Catholic music Reed heard during his six month stay in Mexico in 1948-9. Reed is known for blending influences from Mexican, Native American, African-American and Anglo-American music.

The HSU Symphonic Band spring concert begins at 8 PM on Friday, April 27 in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus. Tickets are $6 general, $2 students/seniors, free to HSU students with ID, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Directed by Paul Cummings, an HSU Music Department production.