OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SYMPHONIC BANDS AND ENSEMBLES SEPTEMBER 2016
REGIONAL CONFERENCE WASBE Regional Conference Prague 8-11 July 2016 by John Tregellas, Director, The Prague Concert Co. and Local Organising Committee member For a whole weekend the concert halls of Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, were full of the sound of symphonic wind music as bands and ensembles from all around Europe and beyond came together for the WASBE Regional Conference held from 8-11 th July. The destination was selected both because of Prague s spectacular historic concert halls and rich musical heritage and also as a way of showcasing the important contribution which Czech composers have made to the symphonic wind repertoire. Accordingly, the morning lectures and workshops focused on the music of Julius Fučík and Václav Nelhybel, as well as offering insights into the symphonic wind tradition in Slovenia, Hungary and Estonia. The workshops by Douglas Bostock and Alexander Comitas, ably supported by the Prague Castle Guard and Police Band under the direction of Václav Blahunek, were particularly well-received. In the afternoons the focus switched to the Fringe Festival, which comprised concerts by both Czech and international ensembles in a number of historic venues both in the centre of Prague and in the historic silver-mining town of Kutná Hora, a popular tourist destination located one hour s drive east of Prague. In Prague, orchestras and bands performed in the beautiful Valdštejn Garden, attached to the Senate of the Czech Parliament. Fortunately the weather was beautiful and sunny and the ensembles attracted large and enthusiastic crowds of onlookers. Concerts were also held in the Congress Hall of the Czech National Bank and in the garden of the Central Bohemian Gallery (GASK), Kutná Hora. Wind orchestras from around the Czech Republic travelled to the conference to perform in the fringe, which was ably organised by the Czech national cultural organisation NIPOS. Each of the conference s 4 days culminated in a major evening concert given by some of the 20 ensembles from Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Switzerland, the United States and of course the Czech Republic who attended the conference. Concerts took place in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House and the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle. Amongst the groups performing were the Eesti Noorte Kontsert orkester (Estonia), the Project Symphonic Band of the Universities of Szeged and Győr (Hungary), the Wind Orchestra of the Municipality of Šentjernej (Slovenia), James Logan High School Wind Symphony (USA) and the Blasorchester Stadtmusik Luzern (Switzerland) whose performance was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the conference. The evening concerts enjoyed considerable public support, with large and enthusiastic audiences attending. Another highlight was the Gala concert in the Spanish Hall given by the Prague Castle Guard and Police Band under the direction of Václav Blahunek and Douglas Bostock which featured the best of 20th century symphonic music by Czech-born composers: Martinů s Memorial to Lidice, Nelhybel s Trittico and Karel Husa s Music for Prague (1968). A reception for all those who attended the concert was held in the spectactular setting of the adjoining Rudolf Gallery, whose elaborate stucco and gilt interiors are frequently the setting for state banquets. The conference s final concert took place in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House, one of Europe s most beautiful art nouveau interiors, and paired the National Youth Fanfare Orchestra of the Netherlands (conductor: Danny Oosterman) with the Czech Army Central Band under Jaroslav Šíp. The Regional Conference owed its success to the hard work of many people, but especially to the vision of Václav Blahunek, chief conductor of the Prague Castle Guard and Police Band and a WASBE board member. He was ably supported by Bert Aalders in the role of Conference Chairman and by William Johnson, President of WASBE and a great friend of the Czech Republic and its music! WASBE World 5
Programs of the WASBE Regional Conference Prague, 8-11 th July 2016 July 8 th, Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum Eesti Noorte Kontsertorkester / The Youth Wind Ensemble of Estonia (Estonia) Conductors: Jaan Ots, Aavo Ots, Valdo Rüütelmaa, Kaido Kivi Soloists: Rauno Rüütelmaa, Märt Metsla, Laur Keller (trumpet), Mait Peterson, Toomas Vana (trombone) 1. Harri Otsa: Prelude Rustico (Brass Ensemble) 2. René Eespere: Beneventum (Good Wind) 3. René Eespere: Tubilustria (world premiere) 4. Valdo Rüütelmaa: The Orchestra 5. Ülo Raudmäe: Young Trumpeter (Soloist: Rauno Rüütelmaa, trumpet) 6. Priit Raik: Moonlight 7. Viktor Konstantin Oxford, arr. Mati Põdra: Marching Song Be Free, Estonian Sea 8. Raimond Valgre, arr. Ülo Raudmäe: Soon I Will Come Back To You 9. Raimond Valgre, arr. Tõnis Kõrvits: Medley of songs by Raimond Valgre (Soloists: Märt Metsla, Laur Keller, trumpet, Mait Peterson, Toomas Vana, trombone) 10. Franz Crepaz & Walter Schwanzer, arr. Karel Belohoubek: Trumpets On Tour (Trompetenreise) Pieces 2, 9 conducted by Jaan Ots Pieces 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 conducted by Aavo Ots Piece 5 conducted by Valdo Rüütelmaa Piece 7 conducted by Kaido Kivi The Project Symphonic Band of the University of Szeged and Győ r (Hungary) Conductors: Jószef Czikota, Ferenc Szabó, László Marósi 1. Frigyes Hidas: Festive Music for Wind Orchestra 2. László Dubrovay: Ransom 3. Arpad Bálasz: Concertino 4. Peter Tóth: Festival Overture 5. Kamilló Lendvay: The Last Message From Maestro Tshaikovsky Pieces 1, 4 conducted by Jószef Czikota Pieces 3, 5 conducted by Ferenc Szabó Piece 2 conducted by László Marósi Woodwind Orchestra of Municipality Šentjernej (Slovenia) Conductor: Miro Saje 1. Bojan Adamiç: Hedging 2. Tomaž Habe: Ptuj 3. Tomaž Habe: The Ballad in Šentjernej 4. Tomaž Habe: Metlika 5. Rok Golob: The Book of Adventures (News from the Galaxy, Concert Band Goes South, Nostalgia for Fanfare) 6 WASBE World
July 9 th, Spanish Hall of the Prague Castle Prague Castle Guard & Czech Police Symphonic Band (Czech Republic) Conductors: Václav Blahunek, Peter Boonshaft, Douglas Bostock Soloist: František Zahradníček (bass-baritone) 1. Jan Zástěra: Coronation Intrada (Conductor: Václav Blahunek) 2. Bedřich Smetana and Václav Nelhybel: Fanfares from the opera Libusa (Conductor: Václav Blahunek) 3. Bedřich Smetana: Evening Songs (Soloist: František Zahradníček, Conductor: Václav Blahunek) 4. Bohuslav Martinů, arr. Evžen Zámečník: Memorial to Lidice 5. Václav Nelhybel: Procession to the End of Time 6. Václav Nelhybel: Amen 7. Bohuslav Martinů, arr. Henry C. Jarman: Little Suite from the opera Comedy on the Bridge 8. Václav Nelhybel: Trittico 9. Karel Husa: Music for Prague July 10 th, Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum James Logan High School Wind Symphony (USA) Conductors: Adam Wilke, Patrick Refsnider, William V. Johnson 1. William Pitts: Conniption 2. Václav Nelhybel: Symphonic Movement 3. Julie Giroux: Hands of Mercy 4. Kevin Pulsar, arr. Mark Spede: Millennium Canons 5. Howard Hanson: Chorale and Alleluia 6. Timothy Mahr: Mountain Prayers 7. Zdeněk Lukáš: Finale Pieces 1, 3, 6, 7 conducted by Adam Wilke Pieces 2, 5 conducted by Patrick Refsnider Piece 4 conducted by William V. Johnson Pieces 1-4, 7 conducted by Václav Blahunek Pieces 5, 6 condcuted by Peter Boonshaft Pieces 8, 9 conducted by Douglas Bostock The City of Lucerne Wind Orchestra (Switzerland) Conductor: Hervé Grelat Soloist: Heinz Della Torre (horns) 1. Albert Benz: March of Federal Counsellor Gnaegi 2. Jean-François Michel: Guernica 3. Heinz Della Torre: Alraune (Soloist: Heinz Della Torre, horns) 4. John Mackey: Wine-Dark Sea Symphony 5. Trad.: S isch äbe en mensch uf ärde (Swiss folk song) WASBE World 7
July 11 th, Smetana Hall, Municipal House Dutch National Youth Fanfare Orchestra (the Netherlands) Conductor: Danny Oosterman Soloist: Perry Hoogendijk (Tuba) 1. Julius Fučík: Marinarella 2. Rob Goorhuis: Rhapsody for Tuba and Fanfare Band (Soloist: Perry Hoogendijk, tuba) 3. Edward Elgar: Selection from The Wand of Youth (March, the Tame Bear, the Wild Bear, Minuet [old style], Fairies and giants) 4. Kevin Houben: Ride 5. Barry Gott: Light Walk Central Band of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (Czech Republic) Conductors: Jaroslav Šip, Josef Kuçera Soloist: Jakub Janšta, organ 1. Julius Fučík: Florentiner March 2. Bedřich Smetana: Moldau, Symphonic Poem from the Cycle My Homeland 3. Antonin Dvořák: Carnival-Overture 4. Leoš Janáçek: The Death of Andrei, first movement from the Rhapsody Taras Bulba (Soloist: Jakub Janšta, organ) 5. Jaroslav Šip: The Creation of the World in Seven Acts (Soloist: Jakub Janšta, organ) 6. Pavel Staněk: Amen 7. Rudolf Nováček: Castaldo Marsch Pieces 1, 3, 5, 7 conducted by Jaroslav Šip Pieces 2, 4, 6 conducted by Josef Kuçera 8 WASBE World