Monday, September 29
5:00 PM
Kopleff Recital Hall
T. Devin Reid, principal conductor
Julianna Pinero, graduate assistant conductor
Fanfare; Reminiscence & Celebration
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich | B 1939
At a time when the musical offerings of the world are more varied than ever before, few composers have emerged with the unique personality of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. Her music is widely known because it is performed, recorded, broadcast, and – above all – listened to and liked by all sorts of audiences the world over. Like the great masters of bygone times, Zwilich produces music "with fingerprints," music that is immediately recognized as her own. In her compositions, Ms. Zwilich combines craft and inspiration, reflecting an optimistic and humanistic spirit that gives her a unique musical voice.
Originally composed for orchestra with three offstage brass sextets, Fanfare; Reminiscence and Celebration has been re-created by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich for symphonic band plus three offstage brass sextets for a dazzling theater-in-the-round concert experience.
- Program Note from publisher
I. Fanfare. The opening of a concert hall is always an exciting event, introducing the hall to the performers and the performers to the hall -- each testing the capacities of the other. I decided to have the ensemble greet and salute the new Ruby Diamond Hall [Florida State University] with a fanfare that includes offstage brass players in three different locations in the audience.
- Program Note from score by composer
Grace Before Sleep
Susan LaBarr | B 1981
Arr. J. Eric Wilson
Julianna Pinero, graduate conductor
Composed in 2011, Grace Before Sleep was inspired by a poem of thanks written by Sara Teasdale. A quiet opening builds into a gorgeous, resounding climax before coming to a more reflective, thankful close. This wind setting, arranged in 2013 by J. Eric Wilson, Director of Bands at Baylor University, draws upon the warm sonorities of the concert band to reflect LaBarr’s musical intent and Teasdale’s poetic sentiments.
Rejouissance (Fantasia on Ein Feste Burg)
James Curnow | B 1943
Rejouissance was commissioned by the St. Joseph (Mchigan) Municipal Band in honor of John E.N. Howard, the band's conductor from 1947 to 1987. In selecting a French word for the title "Rejoicing," and Italian-Spanish word for the form "fantasy," Curnow reminds us of the universality of music.
Ein Feste Burg is a German hymn tune, of which the best known setting is the original—Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." The common account of the origin of this, the most famous hymn of Luther, is thus forcibly expressed by Heinrich Heine:—
"A battle hymn was this defiant song, with which he and his comrades entered Worms. The old cathedral trembled at these new notes, and the ravens were startled in their hidden nests in the towers. This hymn, the Marseillaise Hymn of the Reformation, has preserved its potent spell even to our days, and we may yet soon use again in similar conflicts the old mailed words."
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
Only Light
Aaron Perrine | B. 1979
The melodic material for Only Light originally came from Beneath a Canvas of Green, a large-scale work of mine written for wind ensemble. At the time, I was not quite comfortable with how this music fit within the larger work—it passed by much too quickly—and I knew it was something I would eventually like to revisit.
In the fall of 2012, one of my best friend’s mother lost her battle with cancer. A year later, while thinking of ideas for what was eventually to be Only Light, I found myself thinking him and his family quite often. At about this same time, I was on social media late one night—procrastinating rather than composing—and discovered a post written by another friend, written in reference to his wife. Here is an excerpt:
A timeline. Oh, the dark places I’ve dwelt this morning. The “hows,” “what ifs,” and “whys” pouring over me. But, I digress. There is no timeline at this time. There is only, “we aren’t done with you yet.” There is, “we’ve got more things to try.” There is, in a word, hope. I need me some of that. Toni has pointed out that there are times that I can find the dark cloud behind any silver lining. (Had you only known me before I met you, young lady. Now that Tim could really find darkness where there was only light.) The medical team is set to battle on.
In an instant, I was reminded of how delicate life is and how things can change at a moment’s notice. Reflecting upon these events inspired me to expand upon and ultimately finish this previously composed music. Only Light is meant to convey a sense of hope and healing.
- program note from composer
Of Sailors and Whales
W. Francis McBeth | 1933-2012
I. Ishmael
II. Queequeg
III. Father Mapple
IV. Ahab
V. The White Whale
Of Sailors and Whales (Five Scenes from Melville) is a five-movement work based on scenes from Herman Melville's Moby Dick. It was commissioned by and is dedicated to the California Band Directors Association, Inc., and was premiered in February 1990 by the California All-State Band, conducted by the composer. The work is sub-dedicated to Robert Lanon White, Commander USN (Ret.), who went to sea as a simple sailor.
T. Devin Reid
Interim Associate Director of Bands
Director of Athletic Bands
Devin Reid is currently an active musician and educator throughout the southeast. A native of Fayetteville, NC, Mr. Reid is a 2005 recipient of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship. He holds a Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Mr. Reid currently serves as the Interim Associate Director of Bands and Interim Director of Athletic Bands at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, and previously served GSU as the Assistant Director of Bands and Undergraduate Director for the School of Music. At Georgia State he co-teaches the Panther Marching Band, conducts the Basketball Band, conducts the Wind Orchestra, teaches undergraduate and graduate level conducting and band literature courses, and supervises student teachers in the field among other duties and courses. Under his leadership, the GSU Concert Band has grown to become the largest instrumental concert ensemble at the university. With Mr. Reid’s direction, the GSU Panther Band performed in 2019 as part of the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, been accepted as a CBDNA Southern Region top marching band in 2020, and performed in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA. Preceding to his appointment at Georgia State, Mr. Reid taught public school in Georgia and North Carolina and served as Graduate Assistant for the Georgia State University Bands. While teaching at James Kenan High School (NC), Mr. Reid grew the program from 0% to 10% of the school population in just three years. His ensembles performed at numerous events in and out of the community including the NC Muscadine Festival, NC PAS Day of Percussion and the Virginia International Music Festival.
Mr. Reid has presented clinics and workshops at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference, Georgia Music Educators Conference, Tennessee Music Educators Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Conference, Florida Music Educators Conference, American String Teachers Association National Conference and the Georgia State University Bands of Distinction Honor Clinic. He is a recurrent guest conductor at the International Euphonium and Tuba Festival. He is also an active concert band and marching band clinician and adjudicator throughout Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina.
As a performer, Mr. Reid is an actively sought-after musician. He was the percussionist for the popular brass quintet and Delos recording artist “Da Capo Brass”. Their debut album “From The Beginning” stormed the iTunes classical charts at #8 in January 2012. He has also been a member of the regionally acclaimed bluegrass band, “T.R. and the Boys” as baritone vocalist and mandolin player. They have three releases, and their most recent album; “Lonesome” features one of his original songs as the title track. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association and is an endorser for Sabian Cymbals.
Julianna Pinero
Graduate Teaching Assistant & Wind Band Conducting Student
Julianna Pinero is an alumna of Georgia State University where she earned the Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Instrumental Music Education. At Georgia State, Ms. Pinero was a member of several ensembles including the University Orchestra, Panther Band, Panther Basketball Band, Concert Band, and Choral Union. She is a 2019 graduate of Mill Creek High School where she performed in various ensembles.
Ms. Pinero’s teaching experience includes pre-school instrument with Jumpstart Education, strings instruction at Drew Charter School in Atlanta, student teaching in Gwinnett County, and marching band instruction at Cambridge High School in Milton, GA and North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, GA. In addition, she has served as a visual educators for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in Denver, Colorado.
Julianna was selected as a Conducting Fellow for the Atlanta Summer Conducting Institute hosted by Georgia State University in both 2023 and 2024.
Credits:
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