Program Notes
Shimmering Sunshine — Kevin Day
Kevin Day (b. 1996)
Shimmering Sunshine is a composition that depicts the sun when it is positioned at high noon, its brightest point during the day. Throughout the piece there are different “shimmers” of bright light that bounce around from instrument to instrument, depicting moments of sunshine both beautiful and at the same time, powerful. Kevin Day is one of the leading young voices in the world of music composition. Kevin’s father was a prominent hip-hop producer in the late 1980s and his mother was a sought-after gospel singer. Day enjoys a successful career as a composer, conductor, producer, and multi-instrumentalist on tuba, euphonium, jazz piano and more, whose music often draws from jazz, minimalism, Latin music, fusion and contemporary classical idioms.
Shimmering Sunshine is a composition that depicts the sun when it is positioned at high noon, its brightest point during the day. Throughout the piece there are different “shimmers” of bright light that bounce around from instrument to instrument, depicting moments of sunshine both beautiful and at the same time, powerful. Kevin Day is one of the leading young voices in the world of music composition. Kevin’s father was a prominent hip-hop producer in the late 1980s and his mother was a sought-after gospel singer. Day enjoys a successful career as a composer, conductor, producer, and multi-instrumentalist on tuba, euphonium, jazz piano and more, whose music often draws from jazz, minimalism, Latin music, fusion and contemporary classical idioms.
Ballad for Band — Morton Gould
Morton Gould (1913-1996)
This work was written in 1946 at the request of Edwin Franko Goldman for his renowned Goldman Band and very successfully captures the spirit of popular music of that era, as well as dance forms and jazz and especially African-American spirituals. It is perhaps the earliest example of an original masterwork for band by an American composer and is one of the most beloved and most often performed of the wind band literature from the mid-twentieth century.
This work was written in 1946 at the request of Edwin Franko Goldman for his renowned Goldman Band and very successfully captures the spirit of popular music of that era, as well as dance forms and jazz and especially African-American spirituals. It is perhaps the earliest example of an original masterwork for band by an American composer and is one of the most beloved and most often performed of the wind band literature from the mid-twentieth century.
A Mother of a Revolution — Omar Thomas
Omar Thomas (b. 1984)
Born to Guyanese parents in Brooklyn, New York, Omar Thomas received a Master of Music in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music after studying Music Education at James Madison University. About A Mother of a Revolution, Omar Thomas writes:
This piece is a celebration of the bravery of trans women, and in particular, Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson. Marsha is credited with being one of the instigators of the famous Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969—one of the pivotal events of the LGBTQ liberation movement. The disco vibe in the latter half of the piece is meant to honor club culture, a sacred space amongst LGBTQ persons.
A Mother of a Revolution was commissioned by the Desert Winds Freedom Band, under the direction of Dean McDowell, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.
Born to Guyanese parents in Brooklyn, New York, Omar Thomas received a Master of Music in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music after studying Music Education at James Madison University. About A Mother of a Revolution, Omar Thomas writes:
This piece is a celebration of the bravery of trans women, and in particular, Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson. Marsha is credited with being one of the instigators of the famous Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969—one of the pivotal events of the LGBTQ liberation movement. The disco vibe in the latter half of the piece is meant to honor club culture, a sacred space amongst LGBTQ persons.
A Mother of a Revolution was commissioned by the Desert Winds Freedom Band, under the direction of Dean McDowell, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.
A Fraternal Prelude — Gary Powell Nash
Gary Powell Nash (b. 1964)
Gary Nash holds B.A. and D.M.A. degrees from Michigan State University and has written for orchestra, band and chamber ensembles. He is currently on the music faculty of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. A Fraternal Prelude is a lyrical piece in which melodies with a popular flavor are developed through classical procedures. The melodies change mode, lengthen in augmentation and engage in call-and-response dialogue, while the overall melodic and rhythmic character suggest a ‘Motown’ style. Nash’s performing experience as a saxophonist is evident, as saxes are featured. A Fraternal Prelude is based on and inspired by the Kappa Kappa Psi National Fraternity Hymn, and was commissioned by the Morgan State University Band.
Gary Nash holds B.A. and D.M.A. degrees from Michigan State University and has written for orchestra, band and chamber ensembles. He is currently on the music faculty of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. A Fraternal Prelude is a lyrical piece in which melodies with a popular flavor are developed through classical procedures. The melodies change mode, lengthen in augmentation and engage in call-and-response dialogue, while the overall melodic and rhythmic character suggest a ‘Motown’ style. Nash’s performing experience as a saxophonist is evident, as saxes are featured. A Fraternal Prelude is based on and inspired by the Kappa Kappa Psi National Fraternity Hymn, and was commissioned by the Morgan State University Band.
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
arr. Edward Elgar
trans. Ryan Nowlin
J.S. Bach composed the Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor for pipe organ in the 1720s. British composer Sir Edward Elgar arranged it for large orchestra 200 years later. In 2016, Ryan Nowlin took the orchestral arrangement as the starting point for his arrangement crafted specifically for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, where he serves as Assistant Director and staff arranger. In the fantasia Nowlin retains some of the signature sounds of Elgar's arrangement, but it is in the fugue especially that the colors of the wind ensemble are on full display. Elgar's celebrated arrangement can now be part of the wind ensemble repertoire, continuing the tradition of honoring Bach's work through wind ensemble transcriptions.
arr. Edward Elgar
trans. Ryan Nowlin
J.S. Bach composed the Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor for pipe organ in the 1720s. British composer Sir Edward Elgar arranged it for large orchestra 200 years later. In 2016, Ryan Nowlin took the orchestral arrangement as the starting point for his arrangement crafted specifically for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, where he serves as Assistant Director and staff arranger. In the fantasia Nowlin retains some of the signature sounds of Elgar's arrangement, but it is in the fugue especially that the colors of the wind ensemble are on full display. Elgar's celebrated arrangement can now be part of the wind ensemble repertoire, continuing the tradition of honoring Bach's work through wind ensemble transcriptions.
Chasing Sunlight — Cait Nishimura
Cait Nishimura (b. 1991)
Cait Nishimura is a Canadian composer and music educator based in Toronto. She has written for many genres, but has recently risen to some prominence in the wind band world thanks to her win in the 2017 Canadian Band Association Composition Competition. The piece that won her this honor is Chasing Sunlight, and her program note describes it best:
Chasing Sunlight was inspired by the experience of driving west into the setting sun, as if trying to keep up with the earth’s rotation to catch the last few rays of light before dusk. The steady eighth note motif throughout the piece represents this sense of urgency, while the soaring, lyrical themes depict the warmth and radiance of the sun low in the sky. Just as the sun will always set, humans must accept the impermanence of all things in life, and make the most of every opportunity before it has passed. Chasing Sunlight also represents the ongoing pursuit of these opportunities.
Cait Nishimura is a Canadian composer and music educator based in Toronto. She has written for many genres, but has recently risen to some prominence in the wind band world thanks to her win in the 2017 Canadian Band Association Composition Competition. The piece that won her this honor is Chasing Sunlight, and her program note describes it best:
Chasing Sunlight was inspired by the experience of driving west into the setting sun, as if trying to keep up with the earth’s rotation to catch the last few rays of light before dusk. The steady eighth note motif throughout the piece represents this sense of urgency, while the soaring, lyrical themes depict the warmth and radiance of the sun low in the sky. Just as the sun will always set, humans must accept the impermanence of all things in life, and make the most of every opportunity before it has passed. Chasing Sunlight also represents the ongoing pursuit of these opportunities.
Hispania - Spanish Fantasy for Wind Band — Oscar Navarro
Oscar Navarro (b. 1981)
Oscar Navarro began his musical studies in his hometown of Novelda (Alicante) in Spain, where he specialized in clarinet and graduated with honors from the Conservatorio Superior Oscar Espla. He later studied composition and conducting at the Allegro International Music Academy in Valencia and pursued advanced studies in Composition for Film and TV at the University of Southern California, working under the tutelage of professionals in the film industry. Since then he has achieved great success with his compositions for both orchestra and band and has won numerous national and international composition awards. All of his works are published by his own publishing company. He has achieved wide recognition in the band world, particularly in the United States.
Hispania is a Spanish fantasy for wind band dedicated to the Municipal Band of Alicante (Valencia, Spain) on its First Centenary (1913-2013) and is an homage to the great Spanish composers of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Those composers nurtured the musical culture of Spain and took it beyond our borders. With this piece I wanted to give a wink to the nationalist compositional language of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, giving it a fresh touch without losing the traditional essence, and using traditional dances and rhythms of our folklore. — Oscar Navarro
Oscar Navarro began his musical studies in his hometown of Novelda (Alicante) in Spain, where he specialized in clarinet and graduated with honors from the Conservatorio Superior Oscar Espla. He later studied composition and conducting at the Allegro International Music Academy in Valencia and pursued advanced studies in Composition for Film and TV at the University of Southern California, working under the tutelage of professionals in the film industry. Since then he has achieved great success with his compositions for both orchestra and band and has won numerous national and international composition awards. All of his works are published by his own publishing company. He has achieved wide recognition in the band world, particularly in the United States.
Hispania is a Spanish fantasy for wind band dedicated to the Municipal Band of Alicante (Valencia, Spain) on its First Centenary (1913-2013) and is an homage to the great Spanish composers of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Those composers nurtured the musical culture of Spain and took it beyond our borders. With this piece I wanted to give a wink to the nationalist compositional language of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, giving it a fresh touch without losing the traditional essence, and using traditional dances and rhythms of our folklore. — Oscar Navarro
Triangle Wind Ensemble Performers
|
Flute
Cindy Chastang Merritt Flexman Lauren Robbins-Pollack Rosene Rohrer Tammy Schmidt Jennifer Wesner Piccolo Tammy Schmidt Clarinet Michael Capps Lecia Cecconi-Roberts Louise Eaglesfield Julie Eidsvaag Misti Griffith Vince Pistritto Nick Siedentop Gail VanMatre Bass Clarinet Victoria Alston |
Oboe
Virginia Carty Matie Michalak English Horn Virginia Carty Bassoon Dale Broadbent Robin Hashey Saxophone Katherine Lee Roberta Melton Lynn Narveson Aaron Payne Trumpet Jim Alexander Christine Bui Kaitlyn Dehority Carey Forman Kris Gilmore Kathy Silbiger |
Horn
Laura Alexander Michael Grimes Michael Lewis Eric Smith Euphonium Connie Varner James Wagner Buddy West Trombone Michal Evans Marshall Sweet Matt Weingarten Bass Trombone Dorey A. Freeman |
Tuba
Chris Dodson Hendry Urbano Bill White Percussion Rich Bono Stephen Hambright Bill Hayes Will Lebossiere Noah Marcus Guitar James Crescinzi Harp Rose Abernathy Piano Luke Knudsen Music Director Evan Feldman |
Special Thanks to Our Season Sponsors
Our Season Sponsors help provide the financial support needed to enable us to create outstanding music. To find our how you can become a Season Sponsor and the benefits of doing so, please visit our Sponsors page.
Fortississimo Level Sponsors
- Kathy and Alexander Silbiger Fund of Triangle Community Foundation
- Anonymous
- Michael Capps
- Carey & Lisa Forman
- Lynn Narveson & Roberta Melton
- Kim & Tim Sweet
- Victoria Alston
- Bono Percussion
- Christine Bui
- Lecia Cecconi & Ray Roberts
- Cindy Chastang
- Maureen & James Davis
- Merritt Flexman
- James & Faye Hook
- Frank A. Hoss, Jr.
- Linda & Joel Johnson
- Paul & Judith Kindig
- Holly & Paul Mandelkern
- Ethel Erickson Radmer
- Gail Van Matre
- Connie Varner
- Bill White
- Erin Wynia
Institutional Partners
Thanks also to the following institutional partners who have helped TWE in a variety of ways this year...
Our Music Director
Dr. Evan Feldman is Director of Wind Studies and Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches courses in conducting and music education. He also directs the Triangle Wind Ensemble and serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Greensboro Sym- phony, where he conducts education, holiday, and pops concerts.
He is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in and outside of the United States, with recent engagements in Spain, Switzerland, Romania, Belgium, and Tanzania, as well as all-state, all-district, and all-county honor bands in the United States. Under his direction, the UNC Wind Ensemble has twice been invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association southern division conference.
In 2020, Dr. Feldman’s college textbook, Instrumental Music Education (Routledge Publishing), was released in its third edition and has been adopted by university music education programs throughout the country. He is the author of the first MOOC (massive open online course) dedicated to conducting and rehearsal technique. Over 30,000 students have enrolled through Coursera.org.
Dr. Feldman’s arrangements and editions of music by Léo Delibes, Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Enescu, Antonin Dvořák, Ariel Ramirez, and Sergei Prokofiev are published by Tierolff Muziekcentrale.
Dr. Feldman earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied with Donald Hunsberger and Mendi Rodan and served as an assistant conductor for the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Eastman Wind Orchestra. He received his Masters in Conducting from Ithaca College and his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Duke University. He previously taught high school band in Hicksville, NY.
He is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in and outside of the United States, with recent engagements in Spain, Switzerland, Romania, Belgium, and Tanzania, as well as all-state, all-district, and all-county honor bands in the United States. Under his direction, the UNC Wind Ensemble has twice been invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association southern division conference.
In 2020, Dr. Feldman’s college textbook, Instrumental Music Education (Routledge Publishing), was released in its third edition and has been adopted by university music education programs throughout the country. He is the author of the first MOOC (massive open online course) dedicated to conducting and rehearsal technique. Over 30,000 students have enrolled through Coursera.org.
Dr. Feldman’s arrangements and editions of music by Léo Delibes, Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Enescu, Antonin Dvořák, Ariel Ramirez, and Sergei Prokofiev are published by Tierolff Muziekcentrale.
Dr. Feldman earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied with Donald Hunsberger and Mendi Rodan and served as an assistant conductor for the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Eastman Wind Orchestra. He received his Masters in Conducting from Ithaca College and his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Duke University. He previously taught high school band in Hicksville, NY.
