This Sunday, Nov. 21, the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will hold their second concert of the year. Titled “American Mavericks,” the concert includes pieces written in the mid-twentieth century by American composers.
“The pieces are cut from a different cloth than other works of the time,” said Andy Mast, the director of bands. “These composers did their own thing.”
Mast said that one of the concert’s main pieces is the Wind Ensemble’s “Concerto for Flute and Wind Orchestra,” composed by Henk Badings in 1963. The concerto features a flute solo by faculty member Ernestine Whitman. Mast has been planning to present this piece since last spring.
The Wind Ensemble will also perform David Maslanka’s “Symphony No. 4” from 1993. “Symphony No. 4” is a single 35-minute movement, whereas most pieces of that length are divided into separate movements. According to Mast, this piece is monumental and powerful, and it makes great use of the wind section. It includes organ and harp as well. “I have known and loved this piece for a long time, and I wanted to play it for this concert,” Mast said.
Another piece on the program is the Symphonic Band’s performance of “George Washington Bridge,” composed in 1951 by William Schuman. Mast said that he has also wanted to perform this piece for a while.
The Symphonic Band has two other pieces on their schedule: “Chorale Prelude: O God Unseen,” a 1985 work by Vincent Persichetti, and Charles Ives’ 1954 “Old Home Days,” which was arranged by Jonathan Elkus.
Come see the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band in concert, this Sunday at 3 p.m. in the chapel.
American mavericks in the Chapel
