WindEns
WindEns
WindEns
Ford Hall
Sunday, October 15th, 2017
4:00 pm
Ithaca College Wind Symphony
Shortcut Home (2004) Dana Wilson
(b. 1946)
3'
Children’s March: “Over the Hills and Far Away” Percy Grainger
(1919) (1882-1961)
ed. Mark Rogers
8'
Shortcut Home is a rousing and rather elaborate fanfare that features each
section of the ensemble. Drawing upon various jazz styles, the music
proclaims and cascades, always driving towards the “home” of the final C
major chord. (Note from score)
Children’s March was scored for band by Grainger in 1919 from a piano
solo which he had composed between 1916 and 1918. He began the band
arrangement while a member of the U.S. Coast Artillery Band and wrote it to
take advantage of that band’s instrumentation. Like many of Grainger’s
works, the march demonstrates both the fierceness and the tenderness of the
composer’s personality. It was dedicated “to my playmate beyond the hills,”
believed to be Karen Holton, a Scandinavian beauty with whom the composer
corresponded for eight years but did not marry because of his mother’s
jealousy. (Note by Frederick Fennell)
The unique sounds of Mexican dance salons, which Márquez knew well from
childhood can be heard in this work. Danzón No. 2 is so popular it has been
referred to as a second national anthem for Mexico. Márquez states: The idea
of writing the Danzón No. 2 originated in 1993 during a trip to Malincalco
with the painter Andrés Fonseca and the dancer Irene Martínez, both of who
are experts in salon dances with a special passion for the danzón. I was
fascinated an I started to understand that the apparent lightness of the
danzón is only like a visiting card for a type of music full of sensuality and
qualitative seriousness, a genre which old Mexican people continue to dance
with a touch of nostalgia and a jubilant escape towards their own emotional
world. We can fortunately still see this in the embrace between music and
dance that occurs in Veracruz and in the dance parlors of Mexico City. (Note
by Arturo Márquez)
The word, sanctuary, conjures a rich array of images. It can imply a place of
solitude, comfort, rest, prayer, protection. It can suggest a place that is
strong and imposing or one that is very small and private. Each of these
images are suggested at one point throughout the piece. Sanctuary was
commissioned by the Michigan School band and Orchestra Association in
honor of H. Robert Reynolds. (Note from the score)
As this piece (Fanfare for Karel) was written in honor of Karel Husa on the
occasion of his passing, all of its material is derived from his classic work
"Music for Prague." Interestingly, the opening motive of that piece and of this
fanfare is related to Karel's last name as follows: H--is the German letter for
our note “B”; U--does not translate to a musical note; S--is the German letter
for Es, or our Eb; A--the musical note A. (Note by Dana Wilson)
Old Wine in New Bottles is a [four movement] suite for woodwind,
trumpets and horns, written specially for this festival. Each movement is
based on an Old English folk song and the free modern treatment of the
familiar tunes gives rise to its title. Dr. Gordon Jacob had the St. Bees Festival
Orchestra’s wind players in mind when he wrote the suite, and in giving every
one of them something immensely enjoyable to play, he has written a work of
beauty and wit that will enliven these programmes, and unless we are greatly
mistaken, many more in the future. (Notes from the 1959 St. Bees Music
Festival Souvenir Programme)
Dr. Hughes has, on several occasions, been included in the Who's Who
Among America's Teachers publication and, for the past 13 years, he has
been listed in Who's Who in America. He was recently honored with induction
into Who's Who In The World. Hughes's affiliations include the International
Conductor's Guild, College Band Directors National Association, World
Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, New York State School
Music Association, Phi Mu Alpha (honorary), and Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary).
Benjamin Rochford joined the Ithaca College School of Music in 2016 and
currently serves as the Interim Associate Director of Bands. At IC, Professor
Rochford conducts the Wind Symphony and Concert Band and teaches
courses in instrumental conducting and brass pedagogy. Prior to his
appointment at Ithaca College, Mr. Rochford was a Doctoral Conducting
Associate and PhD candidate at the University of Florida and also served as
Director of Bands at the Valley Grove School District in Franklin,
Pennsylvania. While at the University of Florida, his responsibilities included
directing the UF Concert Band, assisting with the athletic bands, and teaching
courses in conducting, music education, jazz improvisation, jazz history, and
philosophy. In addition, Mr. Rochford managed marketing and promotional
materials for the band department and assisted with the UF Wind Symphony
and Jazz Band.
Mr. Rochford is an active free lance trumpet player and has performed with
the Erie Philharmonic, Venango Chamber Orchestra, Franklin Silver Cornet
Band, and various jazz groups. Mr. Rochford has toured across the United
States with wind bands and has performed at Carnegie Hall. Recently, he
performed with he American Chamber Winds throughout Italy and
Switzerland. He has also performed with a number of notable jazz musicians
including Bobby Shew, Wycliffe Gordon, Dennis DiBlasio, George Rabbi,
Michael Davis, Dave Pietro, Ingrid Jensen, Ryan Kisor, and Chris Vidala.
Professor Rochford was recently invited to perform as a guest artist at the
2017 Brazilian Music Institute in Miami, FL.
Burgess has served as a member of the Student Affairs Commission for the
Connecticut Music Educators Association, co-chairman of the Connecticut
All-State Ensemble Festival, co-chairman of the CT Eastern Region High
School Festival Band and the CT All-State Band, and was CT Eastern Region
Festival chairman from 2014 until 2015. From 2007 until 2015 he served on
the officer board of the Charter Oak Music Festival.
Ithaca College Campus Band & Ithaca College Campus Jazz Ensemble
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
7:00PM in Ford Hall
Members of the Ithaca College Choir who joined the Wind Symphony in
performance this evening
Ithaca College School of Music Wind, Brass, Percussion, and Keyboard Faculty
Grainger Singers
Part I
Seamus Buxton
Frankie DiLello
Nicole Rivera-Diaz
Part II
Lucas Hickman
Catherine Barr
Part III
Holden Turner
Jacob Kerzner
Matthew Coveney
Part IV
Kevin Harris
Cameron Costello