The combined concert of the Ohio University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band was an event that could only be done justice by a firsthand account. It was exemplary of what talented and dedicated students are capable of in just five short weeks. It was a night of refined musicianship from the first song to the last.
The evening began with the Symphonic Band directed by Dr. Richard Suk with graduate conductor Josh Boyer. They started strong with their first piece Alarums by Martin Mailman. The second piece was a soothing melodic hymn aptly named Southern Hymn by Samuel R. Hazo. The major work of the night for the Symphonic Band was Robert Jager’s Colonial Airs and Dances a four-movement piece with a wide range of fast movements contrasted with sections of flowing legato. The Symphonic Band made their exit with Robinson’s Grand Entrée March by Karl L. King; a traditional march piece that was excellently executed
The Wind Symphony, directed by Andrew Trachsel with graduate conductor Kenneth Will, featured a command performance of Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B flat to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the piece. Also on the playbill for the evening was the face paced Zing! by Scott McAllister and the piece October by the renowned young composer Eric Whitacre. The concert ended on a high note with the fast-paced Latin styling of the Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No.2 in observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
This concert was only the first of the quarter for these highly-recommended ensembles. The two groups will be hosting a second concert for the quarter on November 6. The repertoire will consist of new pieces as well of some of the pieces performed in this concert.
Arts for Ohio 