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News from |
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Michael D. Chason Director of Public
Relations ABAC 30, 2802 Moore Hwy |
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For IMMEDIATE
Release November 5, 2009
ABAC CONCERT BAND
PERFORMS NOVEMBER 19
TIFTON--The
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Concert Band, under the direction of Woody Leonard, will present an evening of music on Nov.
19 at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium. The public is invited to attend this
very special concert at no charge.
A
variety of music will be performed, including the premier performance of a new
arrangement for concert band. Ed Barr
from Valdosta will serve as guest conductor.
The
90-member group will begin the night’s program with “The Star Spangled Banner” followed by
an exciting tune titled “Full Tilt” from contemporary composer Richard L. Saucedo. Its rhythmic energy, complex mixed meter, and
syncopated phrasings will provide a thrill ride for performance and audience
members alike.
“Canticle
of the Creatures”, by composer/arranger Jim Curnow, will be the next piece
performed at the concert. Written in 1984 in homage to the writings of Saint
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), founder of the Franciscan order of the Roman
Catholic Church, this six movement symphonic suite sings praises to many of
God’s creations and was originally sung by the friars as part of their
preaching exercises.
Barr,
the guest conductor for the evening’s program, will direct John Philip Sousa’s
stirring march, “On the Campus”. Composed after World War I, it was dedicated
to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who returned home and subsequently
entered college.
Barr,
a music educator for over 40 years, is a retired professor of music from
Valdosta State University where he directed the concert band and jazz
ensemble. He is a published composer and
studied composition with Egbert Ennulat and John Corina. He maintains an active performing schedule
playing piano with his trio, small band, and 18-piece
dance orchestra. In retirement, Barr
continues to work in instrumental music with adjudication and clinic
appearances.
“Castle
Rock”, originally written for the famed Auburn Knights Orchestra by tenor
saxophonist Rick Bell, is an up-tempo, swing-style composition filled with
opportunities for blues improvisation and rousing big-band riffs. This adaptation, arranged by Leonard and premiered
by the ABAC Concert Band, will feature several student members as
soloists.
The
evening will conclude with “La Sorella”, a march on Spanish Themes for
Symphonic Band written in 1906 by French composer Charles Borel-Clerc. The title means “the sister” in Italian and
is based on a Brazilian dance as expressed in the motives of the celebrated song
“Ma Peau d`Espagne” (My Skin of Spain).
For more information, please contact Leonard at (229) 391-4944 or Don Coates at
(229) 391-4942.
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