Wind Symphony Erica Neidlinger, conductor

Transcription

1 Friday, June 1, :00 p.m. Wind Symphony Erica Neidlinger, conductor DePaul Concert Hall 800 West Belden Avenue Chicago

2 Friday, June 1, :00 p.m. DePaul Concert Hall Wind Symphony Erica Neidlinger, conductor Program Oscar Navarro (b. 1981) Downey Overture (2011) Joel Puckett (b. 1977) Avelynn s Lullaby (2011) Viet Cuong (b. 1990) Sound and Smoke (2011) I. feudal castle lights II. avalanche of eyes Cindy McTee (b. 1953) Timepiece (2000)

3 Program Notes Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 The wind ensemble is an ever-changing musical medium ready to explore new artistic possibilities. In contrast to much of the repertoire we have recently performed, this program represents a diverse group of composers and a modern color palette. All of the repertoire was composed during the 21st century. As our society changes and grows so does the expression of humanity as shared by the artists of our time. Oscar Navarro (b. 1981) Downey Overture (2011) Duration: 6 minutes Born in Spain, Oscar Navarro studied composition and conducting at the Allegro International Music Academy of Valencia. He then began graduate studies at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where he was influenced by many film composers. While a student in California he began working as an orchestrator and created concert suites for film music. Navarro has since become a successful composer of both classical and film music, with commissions and premieres from many major ensembles in the United States and around the globe. Downey Overture was dedicated to the Downey Symphony Orchestra in California and transcribed for wind band by the composer. Navarro describes it as, Latin-American fusion with which I have wanted to link my birth country, Spain, and California, the land that has greatly impacted me personally and musically. The work is based on the introductory theme, consisting of a perfect fifth, perfect fourth, and then tri-tone. This theme unites the remainder of the work as it is manipulated by hythm and/or interval, sometimes replacing the perfect fifth, perfect fourth with a tri-tone or third. The Latin influence is obvious in this dance-like atmosphere that constantly surprises the listener and also illustrates Navarro s film score experience.

4 Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 Joel Puckett (b. 1977) Avelynn s Lullaby (2011) Duration: 9 minutes Joel Puckett has been praised by the Washington Post as visionary. He is a singer who sings much of his music into software, improvises possible contrapuntal ideas, and then clarifies the structure in notation, further improvising melodic ideas as needed. This reliance on the human voice is strongly apparent in his music, as vocal-like qualities abound. Also evident in Puckett s music is his belief in the life-changing power of music to heal and provide comfort to those who need it. Puckett s inspiration comes from specific events in his own life, which often lead to highly emotional and personal compositions. He is extremely open about these events, whether of joy or pain, allowing for complete vulnerability as an artist. Avelynn s Lullaby is inspired by joyful moments in Puckett s life. It celebrates the life of his daughter, Avelynn, whom he describes as having the energy of three babies! In Puckett s words, Avelynn s Lullaby is both a journey of daddy trying to coax daughter to sleep and a journey of daughter enjoying the song, fighting sleep, and eventually succumbing to slumber. The performance of Avelynn s Lullaby this evening is entirely student prepared. In the spirit of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, students have shared their musical ideas and rehearsed without a conductor, making each individual responsible for having an opinion and clearly stating this opinion to his or her colleagues. In addition, they have had to build communication skills in order to perform without a conductor, thus furthering their development as independent musicians.

5 Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 Viet Cuong (b. 1990) Sound and Smoke (2011) Duration: 15 minutes The New York Times has called Viet Cuong s music alluring and wildly inventive. Born in California and raised in Georgia, he is currently furthering his composition studies in the Artist Diploma program at the Curtis Institute of Music, having completed degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and Princeton. At his young age, he has already been acknowledged with many awards and honors, including the 2012 Walter Beeler Memorial Prize for Sound and Smoke. The title Sound and Smoke holds many possible meanings, both literal and figurative. It is a quote taken from Goethe s play Faust, in which Faust declares Feeling is everything. Words are mere sound and smoke. Cuong intends his piece to evoke feelings through music in a manner that words cannot. Although movement titles are given, they are suggested departure points for the imagination, not programmatic images. Cuong s musical language in the piece often creates a sonic illusion, blurring its clarity. Recurring common tones create a hazy smoke-like reverberation in both movements and the unexpected placement of rhythmic stress contributes to the illusion of changing tempo and meter in movement two. Throughout the work musical ideas are often presented as brief images and then either transform or disappear, much like sound and smoke. Cindy McTee (b. 1953) Timepiece (2000) Duration: 9 minutes Cindy McTee s music has been hailed by critics and performed by professional ensembles all over the world. McTee was raised by musical parents - her father played trumpet and her mother played clarinet in a local dance band. As a child McTee was influenced by the jazz and popular music performed by this ensemble. At age six she began studying piano with a teacher who encouraged improvisation.

6 Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 Like many of McTee s pieces, Timepiece includes improvisatorylike idioms that are playfully manipulated throughout the work. Commissioned by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to commemorate its 100th anniversary, the title not only marks the obvious passing of time, but also implies the figurative. McTee says the piece begins, before time in a womb-like holding place, and then the clocklike pulse appears as time begins. Timepiece both suspends and advances time in a subconscious/conscious way: Much of my recent thinking about music is informed by the writings of Carl G. Jung who, in the words of Anthony Storr, felt that the whole energy of mental functioning sprang from the tension between the oppositions of conscious and unconscious, of thought and feeling, of mind and body, of objectivity and subjectivity. So too have the integration and reconciliation of opposing elements become important aspects of my work. The frequent use of circular patterns, or ostinatos, offers both the possibility of suspended time and the opportunity for continuous forward movement. Carefully controlled pitch systems and thematic manipulations provide a measure of objectivity and reason, while kinetic rhythmic structures inspire bodily motion. Discipline yields to improvisation, and perhaps most importantly, humor takes its place comfortably along side the grave and earnest. Notes by Erica Neidlinger.

7 Biography Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 Erica Neidlinger is Associate Professor and wind conductor at DePaul University in Chicago. Additional responsibilities include teaching courses in wind history and repertoire, conducting courses, and instrumental music education courses. Dr. Neidlinger s conducting experiences are broad, ranging from chamber ensembles, contemporary ensembles, symphonic bands, and wind ensembles. She has traveled to Singapore and Canada as an ensemble adjudicator and clinician and has been featured as a guest conductor and clinician in Riga, Latvia and Moscow, Russia. Presentations at international conferences include the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Killarney, Ireland and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. She has conducted honor bands and presented at many conferences across the United States. She also maintains a highly active schedule as a clinician for ensembles visiting Chicago. Before her teaching at DePaul, Dr. Neidlinger served on the faculty of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she conducted university concert ensembles and directed the marching band. She has been a member of the band and music education faculty at The Ohio State University and has also served as conductor of the Nebraska Wind Symphony. Neidlinger completed her doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota under the supervision of Professor Craig Kirchhoff. Her research applies Laban s Effort Shape Theory to the expressive development of conductors.

8 Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 Personnel Flute Jill DeGroot Eliza Fisher Breanna Vasquez Willord Simmons Jen Klimek Bethany Sorman Rebecca Murray Frejva Zackrison Javier Espindola Allison Roberts Oboe Matt Sampey Reed Cawley Jacob Shapiro Carl Colvin Allyson Johnson Meghan Andreachi Clarinet Youngchuan Chen Alessandro Tenorio-Bucci Sachina Hobo Julia Janda Jesse Bruer Cullen Daniels Jenna Pizer Melissa Frisch Matthew Osuch Allison Marcella Joe Hands Geronimo Melendez Julia Miller Emily Singer Ashley Weichowski Mallory Pargulski Rachael Wilensky Bassoon Carlos Ruiz Elliot Cobb Rebecca Shepro Kevin Thurman Jenna Cole Saxophone Richard Brasseale James Wilder Peter Tearse Tassos Kirkos Kiante Turner-Walton Jacob Delgado Nathan Hatter Paul Wagner Trumpet Monica Benson Erin Marc-Aurele Claire Hendrickson David Wagner Hailey Menkhus Aaron Wolf Katelyn Mason Adam Mead Eric Huels Horn Melody Lin Fernando Chapa Momo Hasselbring Barbara Dubravec Kyleen Villines Rebecca Hiigel Gabe Krauter Trombone Brian Mayo Matthew Jarosch Colin Towbin Brendan Whalen Frankie Dobyns Henry Linehan Michael Schober Bass Trombone Ben Zisook Andy Chester Euphonium Brian Mayo Matthew Jarosch Colin Towbin Andy Chester Tuba Aden Beery Riley Lindsey Akshat Jain Timpani Tommy Farnsworth Percussion Yulia Cherepanova Stephen Giunta Dylan Green Miyu Morita Cristian Torres Jeremy Warren Carley Yanuck Bass Andrew French Davis Smith Piano Frank Bisconti Harp Ellie Kirk* Librarian Emily Kerski *Guest

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10 Wind Symphony June 1, 2018 Upcoming Events Saturday, June 2 8:00 p.m. Concert Hall Vocal Showcase Sunday, June 3 2:00 p.m. Recital Hall Guitar Ensemble Sunday, June 3 8:00 p.m. Concert Hall Brass Ensemble DePaul School of Music Concerts & Events will resume in September. As a courtesy to those around you, please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices. Flash photography is not permitted. Thank you. Sign up for DePaul E-Notes! Receive monthly updates in your inbox on performances taking place at the School of Music, as well as special offers and discounts to ticketed events! You can choose to unsubscribe from the list at any time. We have a strict privacy policy and will never sell or trade your address. You can sign up for E-Notes by visiting music.depaul.edu and clicking on Concerts and Events. DePaul University School of Music Concert Hall 800 West Belden Avenue Chicago Recital Hall 804 West Belden Avenue Chicago music.depaul.edu

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12 804 West Belden Avenue Chicago, IL music.depaul.edu