Thomas C. Duffy, Music Director. Program:
● Gustav Holst composed his “First Suite in Eb for Military Band” in 1909. This milestone in the history of band literature is one of the few early band originals that has been transcribed for symphony orchestra. The Yale Concert Band is pleased to welcome Yale staff and faculty musicians to join this performance (click link below for music and information on how to join.)
● Viet Cuong wrote “Deciduous” after his father’s death, comparing the experience of grief and healing to the cycle of life, where there is the loss of one’s “leaves,” after which the leafless winter eventually is followed by a spring.
● Edward Elgar dedicated his “Enigma Variations” “to my friends pictured within,” each variation being an affectionate portrayal of one of his circle of close acquaintances. This classic band arrangement by Earl Slocum is reminiscent of the mighty orchestral transcriptions that comprised the wind band repertoire of the early and middle 20th century.
● L’homme armé diptych: “The Armed Man” (Karl Jenkins) and “The Philosopher’s Stone” (Thomas C. Duffy) Two contemporary settings of the medieval French secular song, “L’Homme Armé.”
● “The Cancer-Free Party” by Jonathan F. Weiss ’24, composer and narrator. This piece was commissioned through the Sing Me A Story Foundation and inspired by the story written by Lola (age 7) and Hamish (age 12) from Cancer Support Community Greater NY & CT at Gilda’s Club. (SMASF is a non-profit whose mission is to serve children and families in need through the imaginative stories of their children and the power of music).
Other music: “Like an Altar with 9000 Robot Attendants” (Ryan Lindveit), “Handel in the Strand” (Percy Grainger)