WIND ENSEMBLE Andrew Yozviak, conductor John Johnston, graduate conductor
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 3:00 PM
PROGRAM West Chester University Wind Ensemble Andrew Yozviak, conductor
ADAGIO PARA ORQUESTA DE INSTRUMENTOS DE VIENTOS ................... Joachín Rodrigo 1901-1999 SUMMERLAND................................................................................................. William Grant Still 1895-1978 LICHTWEG ............................................................................................................... Jennifer Jolley b. 1978
John Johnston, graduate conductor
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PROGRAM NOTES ADAGIO PARA ORQUESTA DE INSTRUMENTOS DE VIENTOS (1966) Blind from the age of three as a result of complications from contracting diphtheria, Joaquín Rodrigo was born in Sagunto in the province of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast of Spain on November 22, 1901. He studied piano and composition with Francisco Antich from an early age. In 1927 he was admitted to the Ecole Normale as a student of Paul Dukas who described Rodrigo “as perhaps one of the most gifted of all the Spanish composers he had seen arrive in Paris. His early music embodied the harmonic and orchestra colorings of Fench the impressionists Ravel and Granados. These tendencies would be developed through his study with Dukas Adagio para Orquesta de Instrumentos de Vientos was composed in 1966 as a commission from Robert Boudreau and the American Wind Symphony. The piece represents one of only three works composed for wind band by Rodrigo. The alternation of lyrical and fanfare themes creates a straightforward arch form to the piece. What is not apparent from a cursory glance is the length that Rodrigo goes to treat each statement of his themes in a unique manner. Variations of phrase length, thematic material, and texture create soundscape where one never really hears material repeated in the same way. SUMMERLAND (1937) Revered American composer William Grant Still, dubbed “The Dean of African-American Music,” composed for almost every genre, including orchestra, band, chamber ensemble, voice, piano, stage and film. His best known work, Afro American Symphony, became the first symphony by a black American composer to receive a performance by a major American (and later European) orchestra. Still’s music is characterized by elegant restraint and genuineness of expression, always with a deep sense of spirituality. In one diary entry of his he shared: “For years I labored in vain to master scoring for the orchestra. Then, one day, God showed me that I must turn to him to rely on the Hand that knows no failure. Immediately upon doing so, that which I could not do before came easy. My Lord showered blessings of inspiration upon me.” This spirituality even guided his compositional process, as he began each work session with a prayer followed by quiet sitting and waiting for messages from the spirit world. Still composed his Three Visions for piano in 1936. “Summerland” is the second of these three visions, and arguably the most popular. Still himself was most satisfied by this work and listened to recordings of it regularly. Each of the three visions represent Still’s view of the soul’s journey from life to afterlife. “Summerland,” on the surface a portrait of a quiet, warm afternoon, has a deeper spiritual meaning, representing the resplendent “Heaven” to which the good person traveled following “Judgement.” LICHTWEG (2016) Art rarely exists in a vacuum; Jennifer Jolley’s Lichtweg /Lightway was inspired by Keith Sonnier’s neon light installation in a terminal in the Munich Airport. The light installation features a litany of fluorescent neon lights along the terminal walkway, both to guide passengers as well as provide a calming mood during the stress of travel. It was commissioned and first performed by the Georgia Tech Concert Band on November 19th, 2017 under the baton of Ting Chaowen.
Lichtweg /Lightway is a fast-paced six-minute work that features two main sections, concluding with a reorganization of the introductory material. A rapid snare drum drag provides a pointed beginning to the piece, seeming to act as the “on” switch for an eighth note ostinato that persists throughout the entire work. As stated by the composer, the ostinato represents colored light beaming from the installation, changing over time through different sections as would the light on different surfaces. Different instrument combinations and rhythmic displacement of melody provide a seemingly endless array of different surfaces upon which the light refracts and scatters. The second section acts almost from the viewer’s perspective, with the glow of warm light being provided the brass washing over the listener. In contrast to the fast-paced groove of the first section, a calmness is provided by the longer tones’ growth and decay, reminiscent of a weary traveler coming towards and passing by the light exhibit. The conclusion of the piece reverts back to the perspective of the light installation, quickly resuming the ostinato that now echoes through the woodwinds and trumpets. The woodwinds and brass provide glimpses of material from both sections of the piece, before joining together to play part of the neon melody in solidarity in the final measures.
West Chester University Wind Ensemble Andrew Yozviak, conductor Flute Julia Carey Wiktoria Godawa Erica Hinchcliff Morgan Turner Erica Westcott Nick Hall Kim Sulahian Oboe John Johnston John DeBiase Bassoon Meghan Freer Joe Plavin Dominick Destefano Bass Clarinet Paige ReHill Clarinet Jen Parziale Morgan Kock Laura Sachaczenski
Cassidy O’Donnell Ben Davan Cassidy Miao Saxophone Joseph Wolf Ethan Tweedie Sara Powell Amy Dulaney Horn Matt Hontz (co-princ.) Felicia Quinn (co-princ.) Hannah Atlas Casey Jennings Katie Fox Frank Stroble Trumpet Josiah Stetler Chloe Francis Zach Walter Zach Walter Julianna Johnson Jacob Stevens
Maddie Sellers Trombone Kevin Scheetz Hojun Kim Bass Trombone Lucy Ferruzza Euphonium Will Rachko Isaac Sattazahn Natalie Travers Tuba Brandon Mooney Andrew Puleo Donovan Gargiulo Percussion Sean McWilliams Nate Gittelman Anthony Maldonado Anton Salaris Luke Thurston
UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739
COVID-19 STATEMENT In Person Audiences Are Not Permitted for Fall 2020 Events Monday, March 1 2021, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Ralph Sorrentino, percussion Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building
Thursday, March 4, 2021, 12:00 PM Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series String Division Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building
Thursday, March 4, 2021, 8:15 PM Winter Choral Festival David P. DeVenney & Ryan Kelly, directors Virtual livestream.com/wcupa
Monday, March 8, 2021, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Ovidiu Marinescu, cello Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building
Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 8:15 PM Vocal Honors Recital Emily Bullock, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building
Thursday, March 11, 2021, 8:15 PM Tom Smith Cello Scholarship Benefit Concert Ovidiu Marinescu, director Virtual livestream.com/wcupa
Friday, March 12, 2021, 7:30 PM Symphony Orchestra Concert Joseph Caminiti, director WCU Foundation West Chester, PA
Sunday, March 21, 2021, 3:00 PM Mastersingers Concert Ryan Kelly, director Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Swope Music Building
*Tickets required for this event.
Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations. Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “School of Music Deans Fund” in the memo line. For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/ArtsAtWCUPA and LiveStream.com/wcupa. Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your pro gram , please recycle it in the baskets at the exit do o rs.
The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean