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Wind Ensemble to Perform 'Loss' Concert, Sept. 29

09/21/2016

JONESBORO – The Arkansas State University Wind Ensemble will begin its 2016-2017 Concert Season on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center, Riceland Hall. Tickets are $5 for the general public, and students are admitted free with their ID.

The theme of the concert is “Loss.” Dr. Timothy Oliver, director of bands and Wind Ensemble conductor said, “The idea for this concert theme came to me over the summer when my 14-year-old son remarked that he couldn’t remember seeing the flags at half-staff for so long,” because of police shootings and terrorist attacks. Oliver notes that, “Music has an incredible power to affect human beings, especially during times of loss. Music can provide comfort and release during our grief, and hope as we heal and move forward.” While each piece on this program deals with various types of loss, there is also an underlying message of hope and optimism.

The concert opens with “Postcard,” by Frank Ticheli, a piece commissioned by H. Robert Reynolds, longtime director of bands at the University of Michigan, in memory of his mother, Ethel Virginia Curry. Reynolds requested that Ticheli compose a short energetic piece celebrating her life.  Ticheli's response was this brief "postcard" as a musical reflection of her character.

Richard Wagner composed the second piece on the program in 1844, 18 years after the death and burial of German composer Carl Maria von Weber in London.  Increased German nationalism resulted in the exhumation and return of Weber’s remains to his native country.  Wagner composed “Trauermusik” for the torch-light procession to Weber’s final resting place, the Catholic Cemetery in Friedrichstadt. Wagner transcribed Weber’s music from his opera, "Euranthe," for the occasion.  The music itself is arranged to suit the slow pace and 2.5-mile length of the procession.

“Testament: Music for a Time of Trial” was composed after our nation experienced the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. According to the composer, David Maslanka, the opening half is a vigorous and powerful assertion of living force which rises to an explosive shriek, while the second half is hopeful and suggests we can remain hopeful, we can forgive, and we can be transformed.

The A-State Wind Ensemble was one of 38 groups to join a commissioning consortium for the next piece, “Of Our New Day Begun.” Acclaimed jazz composer Omar Thomas wrote this work to honor the nine individuals who lost their lives to an act of hatred on the evening of June 17, 2015, while worshiping in the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.  The themes and ideas for this piece are rooted in the James and John Johnson’s song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known endearingly as the “Negro National Anthem.” Blues melodies and harmonies, singing, stomping and clapping are also prominent features of the work.

Noted wind band conductor Frederick Fennell commissioned the final piece, “Morning Alleluias for The Winter Solstice” by Ron Nelson. While visiting Hiroshima Japan, Fennell awoke one morning in a hotel room ablaze with brilliant morning sunlight.  Fennell realized again the power music has to celebrate triumph over adversity, as demonstrated by the people of Hiroshima.

For more details about A-State music concerts, one may contact the Music Department at (870) 972-2094.

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Members of the Wind Ensemble, by section:

Member Name

Position

City

State

Josh Taylor

Piccolo

Bryant

AR

Sarah Doty

Flute

Jonesboro

AR

Caitlyn Lyerly

Flute

Jonesboro

AR

Antonia Makridakis

Flute

Jonesboro

AR

Lynlie Simpson

Flute

Jonesboro

AR

Trevor Asher

Oboe

Poplar Bluff

MO

Michael Baxter

Oboe

Brookland

AR

Caroline Cato

Oboe

Bryant

AR

Sergio Rodriguez

Oboe

Greenwood

MS

Brianna Allen

Bassoon

Jonesboro

AR

Taylor Gambill

Bassoon

Jonesboro

AR

Lane Hall

Bassoon

Salem

AR

Drew Hampton

Clarinet

Des Arc

AR

Erin Lauters

Clarinet

Dexter

MO

Scarlet Pence

Clarinet

Bryant

AR

Alyssa Perry

Clarinet

Cabot

AR

Brett Welch

Clarinet

Jonesboro

AR

Sabrina Richardson

Bass Clarinet

Jonesboro

AR

Nick Graves

Alto Sax

Jonesboro

AR

Yu Minakata

Alto Sax

Wakayama City

Japan

Ana Munoz

Alto Sax

Jonesboro

AR

Tyler Rasmussen

Tenor Sax

Jonesboro

AR

Tyler Remagen

Baritone Sax

Rector

AR

Brandon Bakkala

Trumpet

Paragould

AR

Bryant Bewley

Trumpet

Springdale

AR

Eric Jackson

Trumpet

Trumann

AR

Austin Merriman

Trumpet

Hardy

AR

Asa Puckett

Trumpet

Jonesboro

AR

Sean Quaresima

Trumpet

Reston

VA

Blake Bartholomae

Horn

Mountain Home

AR

Brooke Cole

Horn

Cherokee Village

AR

Devlin Deveney

Horn

Jonesboro

AR

Cassie Ferrell

Horn

Jonesboro

AR

Connor Scroggins

Horn

Malvern

AR

Nathan Anderson

Trombone

Sherwood

AR

Andrew Hakenewerth

Trombone

Jonesboro

AR

Sam Johnson

Trombone

Jonesboro

AR

Dalton Henson

Bass Trombone

Hoxie

AR

Fumi Kubota

Euphonium

Tokyo

Japan

Chandler Weber

Euphonium

Jacksonville

AR

Drew Jones

Tuba

Jonesboro

AR

Kyle Kempf

Tuba

Cabot

AR

Matthew Simpson

Tuba

Paragould

AR

Jeremiah Page

Electric Bass

Texarkana

AR

Sam Holt

Piano

Jonesboro

AR

Andrew Coleman

Percussion

Colt

AR

Keyven Dunn

Percussion

Poplar Bluff

MO

Emily Lindley

Percussion

Jonesboro

AR

Alex Long

Percussion

Walnut Ridge

AR

Molly Stoll

Percussion

Jonesboro

AR

Alex Washam

Percussion

Jonesboro

AR

Jessica Burmingham

Graduate Conducting

Matthew Simpson

Graduate Conducting