past, present, and future

234: Weekend Matinee

Sun, 12 May 2013 00:17:57 -0400

Are you thrifty? Do you go to the movies or to the theater on Saturday or Sunday afternoon to save money? Going into a darkened theater right in the middle of the day has a special kind of allure... and you save money, too. What’s not to like?
I’m one of the thrifty ones... both the theater and the movies are a great way to spend an afternoon, and this week, we’ll hear music that’ll remind us of this great diversion.

Matinees Musicales, After Rossini, Op. 24: Benjamin Britten
  US Marine Band, Col. John R. Bourgeois

Theme from "For Your Eyes Only": Bill Conti
  LSU Wind Ensemble, Frank B. Wickes

Star Wars Trilogy: John Williams
  US Coast Guard Band, Commander W. Kenneth Megan

State Secret - Suite: William Alwyn
  Royal Northen College Of Music Wind Orchestra, Clark Rundell

Close Encounters: John Williams
  Dallas Wind Symphony, Jerry Junkin

On The Town: 3 Dance Episodes: Leonard Bernstein
  University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble, Scott Weiss

233: Percy Grainger, Full of Surprises

Sun, 5 May 2013 12:49:14 -0400

Name a few works by Percy Grainger... If you didn’t start with Lincolnshire Posy, I’d be surprised. He was born in Australia in 1882 and his music spans three continents. He was a prolific, high energy kind of guy with a naughty reputation and this week on Wind & Rhythm we’re going to program some of his music that you might have missed.

Hill-Song #2: Percy Grainger
  US Military Academy Band: West Point, Col. Timothy Holtan
Danish Folk-Music Suite: Percy Grainger
  US Marine Band, Col. Michael Colburn
English Waltz: Percy Grainger
  US Military Academy Band: West Point, Col. Timothy Holtan
Near Woodstock Town: Percy Grainger
  Indiana University Wind Ensemble, Ray Cramer
Early One Morning: Percy Grainger
  North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon
In A Nutshell: Percy Grainger
  US Marine Band, Col. Michael Colburn

232: Sea Songs

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:47:59 -0400

It’s remarkable, it seems like everyone loves sea songs. You would think that this week all we would hear would be the Navy and Coast Guard Bands performing. But no, The Army and Air Force Bands as well as College and Professional Bands all love music about the sea. So, this week at the gathering place for people who love band music, Wind & Rhythm, we’ll hear music to get your feet wet. Probably just the thing to do as we get ready for our summer season.

S.S. Eagle March, "Down To The Sea In Ships": Robert Russell Bennett
  US Army Field Band, Finley Hamilton
Symphony on Themes of John Philip Sousa, IV.
After Hands Across the Sea: John Philip Sousa, arr. Ira Hearshen
  US Air Force Band, Lowell Graham
Sea Songs: Thomas Knox
  Keystone Wind Ensemble, John R. Bourgeois
Song of the Seabees: Peter De Rose/Sam Lewis
  US Air Force Heritage of America Band
Sea Songs: Ralph Vaughan Williams
  North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon
The Sea Treaders, Op. 85: Francis McBeth
  US Navy Band, Francis McBeth
Victory At Sea: Robert Russell Bennett
  US Army Field Band, Finley Hamilton

231: “In the Neighborhood”

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:58:25 -0400

In the western hemisphere, with the North, South, and Central America regions, we’re all “Americans”. But unless you live near a border with Canada or Mexico... you kind of forget. It becomes a bit of a challenge. Here we have two long borders with neighbors who are americans... using the broader sense of the word. And still we usually only think of people from the United States as Americans. I wonder whether citizens of Canada or any of the countries in central or south america are offended by that. This week on Wind & Rhythm, we’ll play music from our continental neighbors to try to become better acquainted.

Danza Final (Malambo) From La Estancia: Alberto Ginastera
  Banda Sinfónica Juvenil Simón Bolívar, Thomas Clamor

Concerto For Marimba: Ney Rosauro
  University Of Calgary Wind Ensemble, Glen D. Price

Lyric Essay: Donald Coakley
  University Of Calgary Wind Ensemble, Glen D. Price

Cuatro Tangos: Astor Piazzolla
  Canadian Brass

El Salón México: Aaron Copland
  Cincinnati Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon

230: “Go West Young Man”

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:26:36 -0400

Here in the United States during the 1800's there was a belief that American settlers were destined to expand throughout the continent. They called this policy “manifest destiny” and no matter how you feel about the expansion of our settlers to the great wild west, it really happened. Horace Greeley coined the phrase “Go West Young Man,” and this week at the gathering place for people who love band music we’ll hear music that explores that fascinating time of our history.

Silverado - Overture: Bruce Broughton
UNLV Wind Orchestra, Thomas Leslie
The Cowboys: John Williams
Northshore Concert Band, John Lynch
Westward Ho: Rayburn Wright
Canadian Brass
The Vineyards Of The West from Three Pieces For American Band: Timothy Broege
US Military Academy Band at West Point, LTC David Detrick
Prairie Overture: Robert Ward
Keystone Wind Ensemble, Jack Stamp
Stampede: Steven Bryant
North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon
Sunrise at Angel's Gate: Philip Sparke
IUP Wind Ensemble, Jack Stamp