CLARION, Pa. — The Clarion University Symphonic Band will present a concert on Sunday, April 29, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. in the Marwick-Boyd Auditorium as part of the university’s Academic Excellence series. Under the direction of Dr. Casey C. Teske, the theme of the concert is “Songs of the World” featuring works that incorporate folk songs from around the globe.
Special guest artist for this concert is the Newyopercussion Trio. The members of this exciting young professional group are Dean Anshutz, Matthew Hayes, and Bob Young.
The concert opens with Postcard from Singapore by Philip Sparke. This piece is based on traditional folk songs that were popular children’s songs throughout Singapore about community spirit and living together in harmony.
Portraits by Jim Colonna ends the first part of the program. This three-movement composition is an homage to the composer’s various composition teachers: Jack Stamp, Morton Gould, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein.
The Newyopercussion Trio will continue the concert with two pieces starting with Downfall” by Steve Reich. The composition is a rudimentary fantasy using themes from three different traditional snare drum compositions. The trio will end with Matt Hayes’ original composition In Ken of Shore. This two-movement work is an experiment in shifting between tonality and atonality.
The symphonic band continues the last part of the concert with David Gillingham’s Sub-Saharan Rhythm. The work was written to capture the spirit and emotion of the music of sub-Saharan countries of Africa by incorporating three folk songs that are indigenous to the region
The next piece is Songs of Old Kentucky written by Brant Kerrick. Kentucky has a rich and unique history that dates from the 1770’s when English settlers sent explorers from Virginia to survey the frontier. From a popular collection of songs, this composition uses five tunes that were popular from the early 19thcentury.
The concert closes with Themes from Green Bushesby Percy Aldridge Grainger. The composition is a setting of a very popular English folk song used for dance. These songs were actually sung to dance to compared to typical instrumental folk songs.
The concert is free and open to the public.
