Noisy Wheels of Joy with the HSU Symphonic Band

Three conductors lead the HSU Symphonic Band in six modern band works by five living composers, and one dead guy. Not bad for one concert, which happens on Friday, December 5 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

Especially when the first selection on the program is called “Noisy Wheels of Joy.”

“That’s by Eric Whitacre,” said Paul Cummings, HSU music professor and director of the Symphonic Band. “He’s one of the two composers we’re doing who are still in their 20s. But like all of these composers, his work is widely respected, and performed by major orchestras.”

“Noisy Wheels of Joy” will be conducted by Kenneth Ayoob, who directed the Symphonic Band for 13 years, until 2005. He is currently Interim Dean of the HSU College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “It’s exciting for the band to have him back,” Cummings said.

The other guest conductor is Dr. Robert Ponto, director of bands at the University of Oregon. “He’s an expert on contemporary music as well as a highly regarded conductor,” Cummings said. “His specialty is living composers, and he knows many of them personally.” He will conduct “Strange Humors” by John Mackey (the other twenty-something from Julliard) and “Serenade Romantic” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Joseph Turrin.

Cummings will himself conduct “Three Dances of Enchantment” by American-born composer Luigi Zaninelli, “Song” by William Bolcom and “Petite Symphonie” by Charles Gounod. “He’s the dead guy.” Gounod was a French composer of the 19th century.

“Five Living Composers and One Dead Guy:” a program of modern music is performed by the HSU Symphonic Band on Friday, December 5 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Free to HSU students with ID.

Media: Arcata Eye, Humboldt State Now.