Symphonic Winds Concert Scheduled Feb. 24

The Symphonic Winds in the School of Music at Illinois State University will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in the Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall.  Tickets are $6 for the general public, $5 for faculty-staff and $4 for students and senior citizens, and are available at the Center for the Performing Arts box office from noon to 5 p.m. or at 438-2535.

Professor Steve Steele, director of Bands, will conduct, and graduate assistant Kent Krause will conduct a three-part set of Ralph Vaughan Williams works – “Toccata Marziale,” “Rhosymedre” and “Sea Songs.”

The concert will open with “American Overture” by Joseph Willcox Jenkins, written for the U.S. Army Field Band in 1956.  It was Jenkins’ first band composition and remains his most successful work.  It will be followed by “Elegy for a Young American,” written in 1964 by Ronald Lo Presti and dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy.  “Sketches on a Tudor Psalm” by Fisher Tull is based on the 16th-century setting of the Second Psalm by Thomas Tallis.

The Vaughan Williams set will be performed without interruption.  The composer’s “Toccata Marziale” for military band is one of the early 20th-century cornerstones that helped form England’s military band tradition.  His “Rhosymedre” is one of three preludes he wrote for organ, based on Welsh hymn tunes.  “Sea Songs,” one of the simpler works by Vaughan Williams, was written for British military band.  He loved the folk song heritage of England and included three English sailing songs in “Sea Songs.”

The concert will close with “A Tuning Piece: Songs of Fall and Winter” by David Maslanka.  The esteemed composer, who has published about 100 pieces of music reflecting a wide range of styles, has a long-time relationship will Illinois State University bands.  His works have been performed many times on campus, including world premieres.  The Wind Ensemble recorded Maslanka’s Symphony No. 5 on Albany Records.