NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will perform their first concert of the spring semester at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.
The theme of the concert is "Tribute," and it will feature the music of notable American and British composers, according to Dr. David Campo, associate director of bands at SFA.
The Symphonic Band will open the first half of the concert with Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Sea Songs." Originally intended to be the final movement of Williams' Folk Song Suite, "Sea Songs" is a march medley of three well-known sea shanties: "Princess Royal," "Admiral Benbow" and "Portsmouth."
Next, the Symphonic Band will perform "Rhosymedre" by Vaughan Williams. Written in 1920, "Rhosymedre" began as a prelude for organ based on a Welsh hymn. The setting for band was arranged in 1972 and commemorates the 100th anniversary of Williams' birth, according to Dr. Tamey Anglley, assistant director of bands and the Symphonic Band's director.
The Symphonic Band will end its half of the concert with "Blue Bells of Scotland" by Arthur Pryor, featuring faculty member soloist Dr. Debra Scott on trombone.
"'Blue Bells of Scotland' is an arrangement of a Scottish folksong that was first published in 1801," Anglley said. "This piece shows the technical abilities of the performer in the three variations. As the piece progresses, the variations become more difficult and allow the performer to show their mastery of the horn."
Under the direction of Campo, the Wind Symphony pays tribute to the American composer Robert Washburn, who passed away Nov. 13, 2013.
"Dr. Washburn's music was well known; in 1980 he was commissioned to compose music for the opening ceremonies of the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, which were seen and heard worldwide," Campo explained. "He performed at the White House as the guest of President and Mrs. Kennedy, and his music was heard at EXPO 67 in Montreal, Canada, as well as at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center."
Washburn served on the faculty of the Crane School of Music of the State University of New York at Potsdam in many roles: composition teacher, dean, Senior Fellow in Music.
"The Wind Symphony performs Washburn's 'Symphony for Band' on this concert as a tribute to this great American composer," Campo said.
The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music and is part of the Concert Series. Turner Auditorium is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407.