Luminescence

Cary Arts Center
Evan Feldman, conductor
Saturday, November 1, 2014    7:30pm
Bursts of musical energy created by the cool sounds of 55 brass, wind and percussion players under the musical direction of Evan Feldman will make TWE’s annual Fall Concert a brilliant experience. The British wind-band classic Toccata Marziale by Ralph Vaughan Williams paves the way for three beautiful and exciting works by contemporary composers who are rejuvenating the concert band repertoire: John Mackey, David Biedenbender, and Steven Bryant. 
Program:
                I. Following Falls and Falls of Rain
                II. Kingfishers Catch Fire

Not Your Grandfather's Concert Band

Wind ensembles, or wind orchestras, or wind bands... choose your term... came into prominence in the latter half of the 20th century and are really flourishing in the 21st century, thanks to a raft of younger composers who love to exploit the many tone colors and range of beautiful and even startling sounds that an ensemble of woodwinds, brass, and percussion can create. 

Our fall concert features three of the most prominent wind-band composers of today—all in their late 30s and early 40s. These composers have been influenced by their experiences playing in rock bands in their youth, experiments with electronic and digital technologies, exposure to the musical languages of non-western cultures, and the high-energy, complex sound-world of twenty-first century American life.

The contemporary wind ensemble is a perfect vehicle to explore new sounds, and, since many good high school music programs, universities, and music conservatories have wind ensembles, there is a relatively large market for these newer compositions that appeal to musicians seeking challenging repertory. A first-rate composer for wind ensemble today can look forward to many performances of his or her works. As an example, Steven Bryant’s Ecstatic Waters, which will close our November 1 program, is being performed in five different states by five different ensembles during the first two weeks of November: Cary, NC; Milwaukee, WI; Columbia, SC; Atlanta, GA; and Miami, FL! And after that, Steven is rearranging the wind-band version for symphony orchestra, a re-working that will receive its  premiere performance by the Minnesota Orchestra in May!

Check these composers’ websites to see where they’re coming from and what they’re doing these days. You’ll be amazed! You can even listen to sound clips of some of their other music.

But first, come to TWE’s November 1 concert to sample some of the most interesting works in the wind ensemble repertory today!

David Biedenbender: davidbiedenbender.com
Steven Bryant: stevenbryant.com
John Mackey: ostimusic.com