The Crane Wind Ensemble at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music will celebrate music that references and incorporates other pieces in its last performance of the semester. The “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” concert will be offered on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.
Under the direction of Visiting Director of Bands Stephen Meyer, the Crane Wind Ensemble will present its final concert of the semester, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” In their own way, each composer on the program reduces, reuses or recycles previous musical material into a highly individualized and uniquely creative form.
Joel Puckett’s “Ping, Pang, Pong” is a contemporary opera overture for modern wind band, based on the three Chinese ministers from Puccini’s opera, “Turandot.” Dutch composer Jan Sweelinck was one of the most reputable organists, teachers and composers of the late Renaissance, and his “Variations on ‘Mein Junges Leben Hat ein End’” presents six variations on a traditional German folk song.
Omar Thomas’s powerful memoriam, “Of Our New Day Begun,” was written in honor of the six victims tragically lost in the 2015 terrorist attack on Mother Emanuel A.M.E Church in Charleston, S.C., and incorporates the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (better known as the African American National Anthem) as its foundation.
The concert closes with Paul Hindemith’s masterwork, “Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber,” which presents a neo-classical reimagining of several of Weber’s keyboard and orchestral works.
This concert is free, and the public is invited to attend.
About the performers:
Formed in 1956 by Willard Musser, the Crane Wind Ensemble comprises 58 of the most outstanding wind and percussion majors in The Crane School of Music. Conducted this semester by Visiting Instructor Stephen Meyer, the Crane Wind Ensemble performs as a full wind band and also in smaller chamber groups with varied instrumentation. This group is dedicated to the performance of the finest wind repertoire, regardless of period or disposition of instrumental forces. The Crane Wind Ensemble is also committed to performing music of our time, and is active in working with composers in the commissioning of new works to support this goal. Recent premieres have included works by Stephen Bryant, Joel Puckett, Kristin Kuster, Roshanne Etezady, David Heinick, James Mobberley, Christopher Theofanidis, Gregory Wanamaker, Dana Wilson, D.J. Sparr and Andre Previn. The ensemble presents at least three performances each fall and spring, and also tours regularly. Recent off-campus performances have included concerts at the NYSSMA Winter Conference and at the NYSBDA Winter Symposium. In 2014, the Crane Wind Ensemble released their latest album, “Adirondack Songs.”
This concert will be broadcast live on the Crane School of Music YouTube channel at the performance time. To view the program and see other upcoming streaming performances, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/streaming.
For more information about SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway institution.
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