Program for April 15, 2018 First Baptist Church
Videorecording of this concert
Flourish for Wind Band (1939)............................................... Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Flourish for Wind Band was written as the opening work in “Music for the People,” a pageant that served as a fundraiser for victims of the Spanish Civil War.
Esprit de Corps (1985) ............................................................................................ Robert Jager (1939)
Robert Jager retired in 2001 as professor of theory and composition at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Educated at the University of Michigan, he then entered the United States Navy and served as the staff arranger at the Armed Forces School of Music. A prolific, award-winning composer, he conducted and lectured in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Esprit de Corps was commissioned by the United States Marine Band, Colonel John Bourgeois, conductor. Although it displays contrasting moods, the work is consistently energetic and dramatic.
Bones Trombone (1922)............................................................................ Henry Fillmore (1881–1956)
trans. and ed. Marc Oliver
Fillmore was from Cincinnati, where he worked in the family music publishing business and wrote music of which his parents often didn’t approve. Bones Trombone is one of Fillmore’s “trombone smears,” which takes advantage of the trombone’s capacity to slide seamlessly between the notes.
The Typewriter (1950)............................................................................... Leroy Anderson (1908–1975)
trans. Floyd E. Werle
The percussion section
Anderson, who John Williams called "one of the great American masters of light orchestral music," seemed to observe musicality in everyday life and to reference his observations in his compositions. His tribute to the manual typewriter is one of his most popular works.
This is Me (2017)................................................................. Benj Pasek (1985) and Justin Paul (1985)
arr. Michael Brown
Mark Wayne Fields, vocalist
The 2017 movie, “The Greatest Showman,” is based loosely on the life of circus impresario P. T. Barnum, and in the movie Barnum gathers unusual people to feature in his circus. At one point in the show he snubs his anomalous employees, refusing them admittance to a reception. They are not to be denied, however, and a production number ensues, during which the troupe takes a stand for its members’ dignity and value.
Over There Fantasie (1917)..................................................................... arr. Ferde Grofé (1892–1972)
scored (1937) Erik W. G.Leidzen
Versatile American composer and arranger Grofé used the refrains from five songs that were popular at the time of World War I, also sprinkling the piece with musical references pertinent to the circumstances. Included are “Over There,” The Rose of No Man’s Land,” “Goodbye Broadway, Hello France,” “K-K-K-Katy,” and “Where Do We Go From Here?”
Fantasy on American Sailing Songs (1952)...................................... Clare Grundman (1913–1996)
Reviewer Michael Doty wrote, “What is most interesting is that this might be called a theme and variations without themes. A bit of research on the original tunes reveals that Grundman takes liberties in each thematic presentation. Each tune is presented first in a highly variated style (this is, after all, a fantasy), and then again, usually with a faster tempo.” The first song represented is “Hornet and Peacock,” referencing an incident during the war of 1812, when the sloop Hornet engaged the British brig-sloop Peacock in fierce battle that resulted in the sinking of the latter vessel. “Lowlands” is a lyric and lush melody. “What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor?” was a work song used to good effect when hauling a rope onboard ship. “Rio Grande” celebrates a departure for a journey to the Rio Grande de Sul, in Brazil.
Flourish for Wind Band was written as the opening work in “Music for the People,” a pageant that served as a fundraiser for victims of the Spanish Civil War.
Esprit de Corps (1985) ............................................................................................ Robert Jager (1939)
Robert Jager retired in 2001 as professor of theory and composition at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Educated at the University of Michigan, he then entered the United States Navy and served as the staff arranger at the Armed Forces School of Music. A prolific, award-winning composer, he conducted and lectured in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Esprit de Corps was commissioned by the United States Marine Band, Colonel John Bourgeois, conductor. Although it displays contrasting moods, the work is consistently energetic and dramatic.
Bones Trombone (1922)............................................................................ Henry Fillmore (1881–1956)
trans. and ed. Marc Oliver
Fillmore was from Cincinnati, where he worked in the family music publishing business and wrote music of which his parents often didn’t approve. Bones Trombone is one of Fillmore’s “trombone smears,” which takes advantage of the trombone’s capacity to slide seamlessly between the notes.
The Typewriter (1950)............................................................................... Leroy Anderson (1908–1975)
trans. Floyd E. Werle
The percussion section
Anderson, who John Williams called "one of the great American masters of light orchestral music," seemed to observe musicality in everyday life and to reference his observations in his compositions. His tribute to the manual typewriter is one of his most popular works.
This is Me (2017)................................................................. Benj Pasek (1985) and Justin Paul (1985)
arr. Michael Brown
Mark Wayne Fields, vocalist
The 2017 movie, “The Greatest Showman,” is based loosely on the life of circus impresario P. T. Barnum, and in the movie Barnum gathers unusual people to feature in his circus. At one point in the show he snubs his anomalous employees, refusing them admittance to a reception. They are not to be denied, however, and a production number ensues, during which the troupe takes a stand for its members’ dignity and value.
Over There Fantasie (1917)..................................................................... arr. Ferde Grofé (1892–1972)
scored (1937) Erik W. G.Leidzen
Versatile American composer and arranger Grofé used the refrains from five songs that were popular at the time of World War I, also sprinkling the piece with musical references pertinent to the circumstances. Included are “Over There,” The Rose of No Man’s Land,” “Goodbye Broadway, Hello France,” “K-K-K-Katy,” and “Where Do We Go From Here?”
Fantasy on American Sailing Songs (1952)...................................... Clare Grundman (1913–1996)
Reviewer Michael Doty wrote, “What is most interesting is that this might be called a theme and variations without themes. A bit of research on the original tunes reveals that Grundman takes liberties in each thematic presentation. Each tune is presented first in a highly variated style (this is, after all, a fantasy), and then again, usually with a faster tempo.” The first song represented is “Hornet and Peacock,” referencing an incident during the war of 1812, when the sloop Hornet engaged the British brig-sloop Peacock in fierce battle that resulted in the sinking of the latter vessel. “Lowlands” is a lyric and lush melody. “What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor?” was a work song used to good effect when hauling a rope onboard ship. “Rio Grande” celebrates a departure for a journey to the Rio Grande de Sul, in Brazil.
