From the Renaissance to the Blues with the Symphonic Band

 The HSU Symphonic Band follows the centuries from the Renaissance to the blues in its spring concert on Friday May 2 in Fulkerson Recital Hall. 

 “This program is designed to show the full breadth and depth of the wind band,” said Symphonic Band director Kenneth Ayoob.

 It begins with a Renaissance keyboard piece (“Ballo de Granducca” by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck) given the wind band treatment, and makes it way to “Blue Shades” by contemporary American composer Frank Ticheli. “While not a strict blues, this work is heavily influenced by the blues in harmony and melody,” Ayoob said. “Many shades of blue are depicted as well—from bright blue, to dark, to dirty, to hot blue.”

 In between are works by John Phillip Sousa (“Fairest of the Fair”), Percy Grainger (“Children’s March”) and Richard Strauss (“Allerseelen.”) 

 The centerpiece is the Morceau Symphonique by 19th century French composer Alexandre Guilmant which features trombone soloist and HSU music major Craig Hull, winner of this year’s wind instrument concerto competition. 

 The Symphonic Band performs on Friday May 2 in Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $8/$5, free to HSU students with ID, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. An HSU Music Department production.