Program for April 9, 2017 First Baptist Church
Videorecording of this concert to be posted
Scotch Strathspey and Reel (1939)............................................ Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882–1961)
arr. Leroy Osmon (b. 1948)
“Strath” means valley, and the Spey is a river in Scotland, so “Strathspey” refers to the Spey valley, and in this case a stately Scottish country dance from the region. A reel is another form of Celtic dance. Australian-born Percy Grainger was a child prodigy pianist who studied in Germany during his teen years, then concertized to make a living. In 1914 he moved to America and joined the U. S. Army as a bandsman during World War I (saxophone), later taking American citizenship. Regarding Scotch Strathspey and Reel, he noted that he used six Scottish and Irish tunes, or halves of tunes, and a chantey, all of which have similar harmonic schemes that allow them to overlay and blend nicely.
Lagan Love (unknown)......................................................................................... traditional Irish folk song
arr. (1999) Luigi Zaninelli (b. 1932)
Composer Zaninelli travelled to Dublin for a world premier of one of his works, and while there heard the haunting song My Lagan Love, which he crafted into this band arrangement. English lyrics by Joseph Campbell (1879–1944) relate the account of a young man in rural county Donegal who is smitten with a young woman to the point of obsession, but he can only admire her from afar.
Of Sailors and Whales (1990)............................................................... W. Francis McBeth (1933–2012)
Duke Ellington!............................................................................ Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899–1974)
arr. Calvin Custer (1939–1998)
Elegant and charismatic pianist and bandleader Ellington became famous resulting from his band’s performances in Harlem’s Cotton Club and a European tour in the 1930s. The medley arranged by Calvin Custer features Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (1942), Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me (1943), Sophisticated Lady (1933), It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (1931).
Daughters of Texas (1929)...................................................................... John Philip Sousa (1854–1932)
arr. (1971) Raymond F. Dvorak (1900–1938)
Sousa had served as the director of the United States Marine Corps Band (1880–1892) and was near the end of his tenure with his own professional touring band (1892–1917 and 1919–1932), when he received a petition from 1,700 students at the all-female College of Industrial Arts in Denton, Texas, now known as Texas Woman’s University, to write a march. The result was this elegant, lilting, 6/8 march in F and B-flat.
Amazing Grace (1779)...................................................................................... John Newton (1725–1807)
arr. Jay Dawson
Will Young, pipes
John Newton was a decidedly unreligious British sailor who, after experiencing a life-threatening storm, reconsidered his theology, left the sea, married, and joined the clergy. He began to write hymns for his prayer meetings, one of which was Amazing Grace.
arr. Leroy Osmon (b. 1948)
“Strath” means valley, and the Spey is a river in Scotland, so “Strathspey” refers to the Spey valley, and in this case a stately Scottish country dance from the region. A reel is another form of Celtic dance. Australian-born Percy Grainger was a child prodigy pianist who studied in Germany during his teen years, then concertized to make a living. In 1914 he moved to America and joined the U. S. Army as a bandsman during World War I (saxophone), later taking American citizenship. Regarding Scotch Strathspey and Reel, he noted that he used six Scottish and Irish tunes, or halves of tunes, and a chantey, all of which have similar harmonic schemes that allow them to overlay and blend nicely.
Lagan Love (unknown)......................................................................................... traditional Irish folk song
arr. (1999) Luigi Zaninelli (b. 1932)
Composer Zaninelli travelled to Dublin for a world premier of one of his works, and while there heard the haunting song My Lagan Love, which he crafted into this band arrangement. English lyrics by Joseph Campbell (1879–1944) relate the account of a young man in rural county Donegal who is smitten with a young woman to the point of obsession, but he can only admire her from afar.
Of Sailors and Whales (1990)............................................................... W. Francis McBeth (1933–2012)
- Ishmael – “I go to sea a simple sailor”
- Queequeg – “It was quite plain that he must be some abominable savage, but Queequeg was a creature in the transitory state—neither caterpillar nor butterfly.”
- Father Mapple – “This ended, in prolonged solemn tones, like the continual tolling of a bell in a ship that is foundering at sea in a fog—in such tones he commenced reading the following hymn; but changing his manner towards the concluding stanza, burst forth with a pealing exultation and joy.”
- Ahab – “So powerfully did the grim aspect of Ahab affect me that for the first few moments I hardly noted the barbaric white leg upon which he partly stood.”
- The White Whale – “Moby Dick seemed combinedly possessed by all the angels that fell from heaven. The birds!—the birds! They mark the spot.”
Duke Ellington!............................................................................ Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899–1974)
arr. Calvin Custer (1939–1998)
Elegant and charismatic pianist and bandleader Ellington became famous resulting from his band’s performances in Harlem’s Cotton Club and a European tour in the 1930s. The medley arranged by Calvin Custer features Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (1942), Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me (1943), Sophisticated Lady (1933), It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (1931).
Daughters of Texas (1929)...................................................................... John Philip Sousa (1854–1932)
arr. (1971) Raymond F. Dvorak (1900–1938)
Sousa had served as the director of the United States Marine Corps Band (1880–1892) and was near the end of his tenure with his own professional touring band (1892–1917 and 1919–1932), when he received a petition from 1,700 students at the all-female College of Industrial Arts in Denton, Texas, now known as Texas Woman’s University, to write a march. The result was this elegant, lilting, 6/8 march in F and B-flat.
Amazing Grace (1779)...................................................................................... John Newton (1725–1807)
arr. Jay Dawson
Will Young, pipes
John Newton was a decidedly unreligious British sailor who, after experiencing a life-threatening storm, reconsidered his theology, left the sea, married, and joined the clergy. He began to write hymns for his prayer meetings, one of which was Amazing Grace.
