Grainger's Masterwork Highlights Close of Fall Concert Season for University Bands

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – The University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony will close the fall concert season with performances at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at the Fayetteville High School Performing Arts Center. The concerts may also be seen via live stream from the program’s website.

The Wind Ensemble’s concert will be highlighted by a performance of Percy Grainger’s masterwork, Lincolnshire Posy. Percy Grainger (1882-1961) was born in Australia and moved to the U.S. in 1914. He composed more than 1,200 works and was one of the true innovators in writing for wind bands. Up until that time, the repertoire for band relied heavily on transcriptions of orchestral music.

The University of Arkansas Bands Program’s wind band concerts also serve as a lab for graduate students studying conducting.

“Having the opportunity to work with the Wind Symphony this semester has been great” said Chase Jones, second-year graduate assistant. “Being able to get practical experience with our ensembles is one of the most rewarding parts of graduate work.”

Jones will be conducting the Wind Symphony’s performance of Chorale and Alleluia by Howard Hanson.

The Wind Symphony’s performance of Morceau Symphonique, Op. 88 by Alexandre Guilamant will feature Cory Mixdorf, assistant professor of trombone in the Department of Music.

Christopher Knighten, director of bands, conducts the Wind Ensemble. W. Dale Warren, senior wind conductor and professor of music, conducts the Wind Symphony. Selected pieces at the concert will be conducted by Jamal Duncan, assistant director of bands.

The concerts are presented by the Department of Music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences as part of the Joy Pratt Markham Series. The public is invited and admission is free.

The program is as follows:

Wind Symphony, W. Dale Warren, conductor

• Halls of Honor by David Gorham
• Chorale and Alleluia by Howard Hanson
• Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre; Chase Jones, graduate conductor
• Courtly Airs and Dances by Ron Nelson; Jamal Duncan, guest conductor
• Morceau Symphonique, Op. 88 by Alexandre Guilmant; arr. Wesley Shepard; Cory Mixdorf, trombone
• Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli

Wind Ensemble, Christopher Knighten, conductor

• Scherzo alla Marcia, from Symphony No. 8 by Ralph Vaughan Williams; Jamal Duncan, guest conductor
• Chester Overture by William Schuman
• Elegy by John Barnes Chance
• Lincolnshire Posy by Percy Grainger