Wind Ensemble concert set for Oct. 6
Concert season at Lee is coming to a crescendo, and the Lee University Wind Ensemble is prepared to perform their first concert of the semester.
Since its establishment in 1999, Lee’s Wind Ensemble has committed itself to musical excellence and versatility from pieces old to new, marches to symphonies and classical to jazz. This concert will be no different with an exciting fanfare, a march, a suite and more.
Photo Courtesy of Lee University Wind Ensemble.
“They are all very different in style and energy, but they all have one thing in common,” said Dr. Joshua Pace, who became director two years ago. “They all celebrate the rich history of where we come from as a Wind Ensemble.”
The set list is as follows:
“A Festival Prelude” by Alfred Reed
“Children’s March” by Percy Grainger
“Shenandoah” by Frank Ticheli
“Second Suite in F” by Gustav Holst
“Deciduous” by Viet Cuong
“Incantation and Dance” by John Barnes Chance
Pace is particularly excited about the final two selections.
“‘Deciduous’ is perhaps one of the most unique and intriguing band pieces I’ve heard in the last few years,” Pace said.
Composed by a “widely inventive” Vietnamese-American composer, the piece features extended techniques, such as crotale-striked snares and sudden-stopped sounds, to capture a “recording-studio-like” effect.
“If the others celebrate where we come from, I think this piece foreshadows where we are going,” Pace said.
“Incantation and Dance” will be a classic grand finale.
“What starts off as cool and mysterious quickly becomes energy and even bombastic,” Pace said.
Audiences can attend the concert expecting to be enchanted, with tunes fast and exciting to slow and moving, from pieces pinpointed by percussion to piano and even vocals.
“I hope they see and hear the hours of hard work our student musicians have put in to deliver a polished product that we are proud of,” Pace said.
And if audiences can not get enough after the first concert, they can look forward to several more concerts throughout the school year.
“New and fresh ideas continue to take the stage at our concerts,” Pace said. “Don’t miss the opportunity to see where we take the music next.”
Tune into the Wind Ensemble’s first concert at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 in the Conn Center. Admission is free and a livestream will be available at Leeu.live.
