clarion.brevard.edu
Volume 84, Issue 11 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
November 14, 2018
Wind Ensemble performance
'A Salute to Our Veterans'
By Carmen Boone
Arts & Life Editor
The Brevard College Wind Ensemble held a concert in Scott Concert
Hall in the Porter Center on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. It was called “A
Salute to Our Veterans” in honor of Veterans Day.
The first song on the program was “American Salute” written by Morton
Gould and arranged by Wagner. It was based on the tune “When Johnny
Comes Marching Home,” and was composed upon the request for a song
to salute America.
The second piece of the night was called “Lux Aurumque,” a piece
written by Eric Whitacre. The translation of the Latin is “Light, warm
and heavy as pure gold and angels sing softly to the newborn babe.” The
song was very lyrical and legato, and a little more serious than the first.
“Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs,” written by Frank Ticheli, was
conducted by senior BC student Stephen Healy. The four songs included
“In Yonder Valley” by Father James Whitacre, “Dance” from a Shaker
manuscript, “Here Take this Lovely Flower” from The Shaker Spiritual
and “Simple Gifts” by Elder Joseph Bracket. The program listed the
tunes as “a sensuous nature song, a lively dance mne, a tender lullaby,
and most famously. Simple Gifts, the hymn that celebrates the Shakers
love of simplicity and humility.”
The next song was “El Camino Real - A Latin Fantasy” written by
Alfred Reed. The program said the song “is a fantasia based on the
harmonic movement of traditional Spanish folk dances often performed
by flamenco guitarists.” The song was fairly long and seemed to tell a
story that changed pace throughout, with a very big, loud finish.
After a brief intermission, Senior Music Major Stephen Healy
performed a tuba solo in “Concertino for Tuba and Band” composed by
James Cumow. The director. Dr. Eric Peterson, mentioned that the tune
emphasised the range of a tuba and it showed lyrical as well as technical
abilities of a tuba player.
The next three pieces were specifically “A Salute to Our Veterans.”
Before the first, a recording of a speaker was played, speaking about the
armed forces and the sacrifice made for our nation. The first song after
that was “O’er the Land of the Free” written by Johnny Vinson. It was
“interwoven with the opening motives of ‘America the Beautiful’ and
‘The Star Spangled Banner.’”
The next piece was “The Greatest Generation” written by Robert
W. Smith. United States Marine Corporal Rick Ledford had a reading
throughout the piece. The music was written for the 75th anniversary of
the attack on Pearl Harbor. The program added, “This stirring tribute to
those that changed our world in WWII also pays tribute to all who have
served in our armed forces. We thank those that served above self and
insured liberty for Americans past, present and future.”
The last piece of the night was “A United States Armed Forces Medley.”
Veterans were asked to stand for the branch that they served in. “Semper
Paratus or Always Ready” was for the U.S. Coast Guard. Next was “The
U.S. Air Force,” then “Anchors Aweigh” for the U.S. Navy. After that was
“The Marines’ Hymn” for the U.S. Marine Corps. Last was “The Army
Goes Rolling Along” for the U.S. Army.
The concert was a great way to honor our veterans. It was very well
done and it was clear that a lot of hard work went into it. The concert was
also given on the 100th anniversary of WWI. It was such a moving night,
complete with great music.
Photo by BC Communications
(Left) Stephen Healy conducts the Wind Ensemble for Frank Ticheli’s “Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs.” (Right) Healy performs “Concertino for Tuba and Band”
by James Curnow, accompanied by the Wind Ensemble.