Program Notes
by Kenneth Ayoob, Conductor

Charles Ives’ Variations on America was written for organ and transcribed for band. The familiar tune is put through a number of changes – a tango, hearing the melody in two keys simultaneously and with both trumpet and woodwind obligatos.

Samuel Barber is best known for his sweeping symphonic essays and beautiful art songs. He also composed a march – Commando March for our armed forces. It contains the familiar harmonies and lush melody in a the context of a traditional march.

Timothy Broege’s Sinfonia V is an eclectic mix of sounds including Renaissance motets, Gregorian Chant (the band sings in this segment), a rag and a bit of improvisation.

Richard Strauss is known for his tone poems and operas, but was also a composer of art songs. Allerseelen is an arrangement of one of his most beautiful songs for winds.

Paris Sketches by British composer, Martin Ellerby, is a tribute to the City of Lights and presents characterizations of various parts of the cities and the many composers who have been inspired by Paris.

Morten Lauridsen’s choral setting of O Magnum Mysterium has become one of the world’s most performed compositions. Lauriden writes, “For centuries composers have been inspired by the beautiful “ Magnum” text with its depiction of the newborn king amongst the lowly animals and shepherds.” This work has been arranged for winds by H. Robert Reynolds and captured the original setting of a quiet song of profound joy.