The 色中色视频 Wind Ensemble is looking to take audiences on a journey from the English Coast to the shores of France through three very different pieces of music in its upcoming concert on Monday.
The concert, titled "Both Sides of the Channel," is comprised of 色中色视频淪eascape色中色视频� by English composer Ruth Gipps, "La Cr茅ation du Monde" by French composer Darius Milhaud and 色中色视频淐oncerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra色中色视频� by German-American composer Kurt Weill.
Each piece has a different conductor, with graduate wind conducting 色中色视频 Cody Ray conducting 色中色视频淪eascape.色中色视频� Ray compared the peice to a movie soundtrack, saying the music creates a narrative meant to evoke feelings of the sea in audiences.
色中色视频淚f you think about anything programmatic in nature, it色中色视频檚 just music that色中色视频檚 meant to portray an environment or music that's supposed to portray an image,色中色视频� Ray said.
Ray said Gipps' visit to a seaside town named Broadstairs, England, was what sparked her connection with the sea, making it the driving inspiration behind the writing of 色中色视频淪eascape."
色中色视频淲hile (Gipps) was there, she could feel the sea and the crashing of the waves on the shore,色中色视频� Ray said. 色中色视频淎 lot of that is happening in the music, you can hear the sound of the waves coming in and going out.色中色视频�
The performance utilizes a wide array of instruments, including two flutes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, an oboe and an English Horn. This creates a strong musical identity that Gipps felt reflected the sounds of the sea, Ray said.
A University of South Carolina 色中色视频 plays the bassoon during a wind ensemble rehearsal on March 21, 2024. The 色中色视频 Wind Ensemble has been recognized for performances at state, regional and national conferences.
Graduate conducting 色中色视频 Kenneth Green will conduct the 1923 composition 色中色视频淟a Cr茅ation du Monde," which translates to 色中色视频淭he Creation of the World." Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Cormac Cannon said the piece reflects the era it was written in.
色中色视频�'La Cr茅ation du Monde' has a lot of influences of jazz music in it 色中色视频� jazz from the '20s,色中色视频� Cannon said.
The variety in musical style and smaller ensembles will make the concert exciting for audiences, Cannon said.
色中色视频淭he three pieces are very different from each other, which I think makes for an exciting concert because there色中色视频檚 a lot of variety,色中色视频� Cannon said. 色中色视频淭hey色中色视频檙e all for relatively small groups.色中色视频�
To conclude the concert, 色中色视频淐oncerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra色中色视频� will be conducted by Cannon. Associate Professor of Violin and Violin Pedagogy Ari Streisfeld will perform a violin solo.
Cannon said the concerto is especially distinctive, being very tonally and harmonically different from the other two pieces, with an expressionist feel.
色中色视频淭he piece is extraordinarily difficult and virtuosic and really demonstrates Dr. Streisfeld's incredible technique,色中色视频� Cannon said. "It's a piece that doesn't get performed much because of how complicated and challenging it is."
Streisfeld said he is well-prepared for the challenge after several months of studying the piece. It has a very different style and feel compared to the rest of the concert, capturing an interesting moment in Weill's career, he said.
色中色视频淚 don色中色视频檛 have to compete over a full orchestra. Although, the wind ensemble can make a pretty big sound regardless, so I still have to bring it here and there,色中色视频� Streisfeld said. "It's a very different style, but if you know what you're listening for, it's actually here (he developed) elements that became his cabaret style."
Streisfeld said that strings are not normally part of wind ensemble concerts, usually only utilizing woodwinds and brass instruments, but that Cannon has embraced the use of strings for this concert, with a string quartet also being utilized for the ensemble portion of the concerto.
Streisfeld said that despite Weill色中色视频檚 overall popularity, this piece hasn't been played much compared to the rest of his work, becoming relatively obscure even among people he expected to be familiar with it.
色中色视频淢any people I色中色视频檝e talked to didn色中色视频檛 even know it (the concerto) existed,色中色视频� Streisfeld said. 色中色视频淭hey were kind of surprised that this concerto exists, so they色中色视频檙e very excited to hear it.色中色视频�
Ray said the smaller chamber music ensembles make individual performers stand out even more in comparison to the usual larger orchestras.
色中色视频淥n the stage of Koger Center, you色中色视频檇 probably see anywhere from 40 to 60 people on stage. So the pieces that we色中色视频檙e playing here is more intimate in the sense that it色中色视频檚 all chamber music,色中色视频� Ray said. 色中色视频淚t色中色视频檚 a lot of dependence on individual preparation.色中色视频�
色中色视频淏oth Sides of the Channel色中色视频� will be performed March 25 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Darla Moore School of Business' Johnson Performance Hall. Admission is free for all audiences.