The UConn Wind Ensembles’ concert opens with “American Fanfare,” a lively, celebratory composition that is spirited and energetic. It moves into a more emotional piece, “Sound and Smoke: Feudal Castle Lights,” whose abstract title is meant to be thought provoking and capture how music expresses feelings better and more fully than words. By blurring the ensemble’s timbers the piece also creates a smoky effect. The concert quickly becomes energetic again with the movement to “Mothership,” which takes classic symphonic scherzo and modernizes it by replacing the traditional waltz rhythm with techno. Following is another nontraditional piece, “And the Mountains Rising Nowhere,” which incorporates singing, whistling and glass crystals, seeks to put percussion on equal standing with the brass and wind instruments, and synthesizes tonal and non-tonal musical materials. The concert goes out with a bang, ending with “Asphalt Cocktail,” a five minute song that captures the gritty spirit of New York City.
The concert is directed by Jeffrey Renshaw and will be held from 8-10pm on October 9th at the von der Mehden Recital Hall located at 875 Coventry Road on the UConn campus. The first half of this performance will be repeated on Monday, October 13th in Carnegie Hall, New York City.
For more information, contact: Kirk Matson at Kirk.Matson@uconn.edu