NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.
BOLIVAR, Mo. — The Southwest Baptist University Department of Music will present “Winds and Friends,” featuring the SBU Wind Symphony, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7, in Pike Auditorium on the Bolivar campus.
Conducted by Dr. Brian K. Hopwood, professor of music and director of instrumental studies, the Wind Symphony will feature works by Reed, Van der Roost, Grainger, Mackey and Fillmore. Guest ensemble will be the Bolivar High School Concert Band – John Trew and Kelsy Whitacre, conductors.
The Wind Symphony will open with Alfred Reed’s concert overture “The Hounds of Spring,” written on commission and dedicated to the John L. Forster Secondary School Symphonic Band of Windsor, Ontario. The inspiration and title come from a 19th Century poem, “Atlanta in Calydon,” a magical picture of young love in springtime. The setting is an attempt to capture the twin elements of the poem, exuberant youthful gaiety and the sweetness of tender love, in an appropriate musical texture.
The program continues with “Suite Provençale” by Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost. This four-movement suite features authentic folk tunes from the southern region of France. Each of the movement titles is in an old French/Latin language called Catalan and reflects the character of the particular folk song. “Handel in the Strand,” characterized as a “fast and merry clog dance,” was written by Percy Grainger, who preferred that people dance to it, clogs and all.
Also on the program is a newer work by American composer, John Mackey. “Sheltering Sky” is not as rhythmically driving and aggressive as many of his works, but retains his harmonic language. It is a lyrical work employing two original folk song-like melodies harmonized with lush extended harmonies, reminiscent of Percy Grainger. The program closes with the well-known Henry Fillmore march, “The Klaxon.”
“Anthem,” by Missouri composer, the late Claude T. Smith, will be performed jointly by both bands and will conclude the concert.
The performance is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Hopwood, at (417) 328-1647 or bhopwood@SBUniv.edu.
*Published: 2-21-19
