Centenary Wind Ensemble sets fall performances for November 19 and 21
SHREVEPORT, LA — The Centenary Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Thomas Hundemer, will present its fall 2019 concert at 7:30 p.m. on November 19 in Anderson Auditorium at the Hurley School of Music. An encore performance is planned for 5:00 p.m. on November 21 in the College’s Hargrove Memorial Bandshell, weather permitting. Both concerts are free and open to the public, and the bandshell concert features a taco truck from La Michoacana Mexican Restaurant.
The concert includes a traditional march, Claudio Grafulla's "Washington Grays," written in 1861 for the 8th Regiment of the New York Militia, and Claude Debussy's dazzling nocturne "Fetes" (Festivals), an evocative picture of a big swirling evening party. “Fetes” features the woodwinds and highlights an image of a distant brass band gradually approaching, merging into the festivities then receding into the night.
Two classics from American composer William Schuman, "When Jesus Wept" and "Chester,” both based on American Revolutionary War era composer William Billings, are also on the program. As a demonstration, a small vocal ensemble from Centenary's Camerata is performing the Billings original setting of "When Jesus Wept.” Other highlights are J. S. Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in Bb" and Paul Hindimith's “March” from Symphonic Metamorphosis. Concluding the concert is music from the 1985 western film "Silverado,” featuring the French horn section.
“I was excited to find in our band library transcriptions of two of my favorite works, the Debussy ‘Fetes’ and the Hindemith March,” says director Hundemer. “Both are not only fantastic music but also a good challenge for the band, requiring nimble playing from the woodwinds especially!”
The Centenary Wind Ensemble is made up of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and interested community musicians and has an open membership policy. For more information, contact Thomas Hundemer at thundemer@centenary.edu or call 318.869.5247.