Washington Wind Symphony: Reflections

Clifton Williams — Caccia and Chorale
Yasuhide Ito — Festal Scenes
Jodie Blackshaw — Peace Dancer
David Maslanka — California
Martin Ellerby — Cane River Murals
John Williams — Main Theme from Schindler's List
Nick Omiccioli — [fuse]
Calvin Custer — Selected works

Leah Weitzsacker, flute
Ron Gerhardstein, conductor

Clifton Williams – Caccia and Chorale
Yasuhide Ito – Festal Scenes
Jodie Blackshaw – Peace Dancer
David Maslanka – California
Martin Ellerby – Cane River Murals
John Williams (arr. Calvin Custer) – Theme from Schindler's List
Nick Omiccioli – [fuse]

Please note that our final concert of the season will be on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Ron Gerhardstein will conduct the band as we perform a stirring and entertaining program, including:

* Caccia and Chorale, by Clifton Williams – This was Williams' final composition, written while knowing his life would be cut short by cancer. The energetic first movement, Caccia, means "hunt or chase." The hurried pace is intended to reflect humans' constant pursuit of materialism, while the melancholy Chorale is the composer's personal prayer of thanksgiving combined with a sincere plea for ethical regeneration by all mankind.

* Festal Scenes, by Yasuhide Ito – A melodious collage penned by one of Japan's premier wind band composers, this work was inspired by four Japanese folk songs from Aomori Prefecture, home of the Nebuta Festival. Ito employs these themes – punctuated by driving, percussive rhythms – to create an authentic, festive atmosphere. The piece made its American debut in 1987 when it was performed by the University of Illinois Concert Band.

* Peace Dancer, by Jodie Blackshaw – Meditation, awakening, realization, and humility. These are the "moments" Blackshaw depicts in her musical interpretation of a thousand-year-old Squamish story about a song and dance. It is based on the book by the same name by First Nations author Roy Henry Vickers.

* California, by David Maslanka – As you listen to the beautiful harmonies threaded throughout this work, visualize the scenic grandeur of our nation's most geographically-diverse state, including forests, mountains, deserts, and the sea. One of America's most popular modern wind band composers, Maslanka dedicated this work to California music educators.

* Cane River Murals, by Martin Ellerby – In five movements, (Spring Planting; Wash Day; Baptism, Wedding & Funeral; Honky Tonk; and Pecan Harvest) Ellerby depicts the African House Murals by Clementine Hunter. You'll enjoy the distinct and varied musical styles of each movement, from spiritual to celebratory.

* Theme from Schindler's List, by John Williams, arr. Calvin Custer – For this piece, we'll feature our own Leah Weitzsacker playing the hauntingly beautiful flute solo. Williams initially turned down director Steven Spielberg's request to write the score for his epic film, declaring it to be "too challenging." The famous movie music composer eventually accepted, and in 1994, his moving and deeply emotional theme received an Academy Award for "Best Original Score."

* [fuse], by Nick Omiccioli – Here's an explosive piece that grabs you by the ear and takes you on a thrilling musical ride. You'll hear a 16-bar blues form, along with a number of pop music genres, including rock, heavy metal, funk, and disco. [fuse] puts the clarinet section to work, requiring fast, interlocking figures that serve as a foundation for the entire piece.

Before you dive into all of your other fun summer activities, be sure to join us at the Redmond Performing Arts Center (located at Redmond High School) on Saturday night, June 15 at 7:00. It will be an evening of gorgeous music that only a live, instrumental ensemble can provide. You'll love the ideal acoustics, comfortable seating, as well as plenty of free parking!

About Washington Wind Symphony

http://www.washingtonwindsymphony.org/