The Washington Wind Symphony: A Windward Traveler

George Gershwin — An American in Paris
Michael Markowski — joyRiDE
David Maslanka — Traveler
Julie Giroux — Symphony No. IV "Bookmarks from Japan"
Aaron Copland — Down a Country Lane (trans. Merlin Patterson)
Giuseppe Verdi — Overture to La Forza del Destino

Jacob Scherr, guest conductor

Michael Markowski – joyRiDE
Aaron Copland (trans. Merlin Patterson) – Down a Country Lane
David Maslanka – Traveler
George Gershwin (arr. Jerry Brubaker) – An American in Paris
Giuseppe Verdi (trans. R. Mark Rogers) – Overture to La Forza del Destino
Julie Giroux – Symphony No. IV, "Bookmarks from Japan"

Welcome back to our 34th season of performing beautiful wind music! Our 2018-19 concert line-up promises to be more exciting than ever. We've invited four accomplished guest conductors from the Puget Sound region to lead each of our four concerts this season.
On October 14, Mr. Jacob Scherr, director of bands and orchestra for Mt. Vernon High School, will take the stage. He's assembled a dynamic program, titled "A Windward Traveler," that will take you on a delightful musical tour around the world.

• joyRIDE, by Michael Markowski – Asked by his high school band conductor to compose a piece commemorating the band's trip to New York, saxophonist Markowski based this piece on Beethoven's Ode to Joy with inspiration from John Adam's Short Ride on a Fast Machine. joyRIDE debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2005.

• Down a Country Lane, by Aaron Copland, trans. Merlin Patterson – Commissioned by Life Magazine, Copland wrote Down a Country Lane for young piano students. Filled with gentle, lyrical lines that meander and flow, it leads listeners down a pleasing, pastoral path toward its contemplative conclusion.

• Traveler, by David Maslanka – From its high-energy opening to its quiet, meditative moments, Traveler guides you on a musical day trip that offers tuneful souvenirs along the way. According to the composer, this work "Depicts our journey from life to life, in time and eternity."

• An American in Paris, by George Gershwin, arr. Jerry Brubaker – Described by Gershwin as a "rhapsodic ballet," this familiar gem is meant to recreate his impressions of Paris after two visits there.

• Overture La Forza del Destino, by Giuseppe Verdi, trans. R. Mark Rogers – His 22nd opera, this emotional and powerful work was written in 1862, and remains a favorite of opera fans today. Besides being a prolific composer, Verdi was a politician and helped establish a hospital for retired musicians in Milan, Italy.

• Symphony No. IV "Bookmarks from Japan", by Julie Giroux – Inspired after receiving a gift box containing six bookmarks featuring famous works by Japanese artists, Giroux crafted six, distinct movements depicting diverse locations throughout the Land of the Rising Sun. Sit back and enjoy this aural tour, featuring gorgeous Japanese melodies punctuated by exciting interludes from our percussion section.

Get your tickets and join us for this melodic excursion at the Redmond Performing Arts Center (located at Redmond High School) on Sunday, October 14. You'll love the ideal acoustics, comfortable seating, as well as plenty of free parking!

About Washington Wind Symphony

http://www.washingtonwindsymphony.org/