UWA Wind Ensemble Winter Concert December 4th, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. | UWA Auditorium

Overture in B-Flat (1966) - Caesar Giovannini (1925-2017)

Trilogy for Band (1964) - Clifton Williams (1923-1976)

Army of the Nile (1941) - Kenneth J. Alford (1881-1945)

Faeries (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies) (1891/2004) | Mannheim Steamroller Edition - Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893/ arr. Chip Davis (1947) and Robert Longfield (1947)

Russian Christmas Music (1944/1990) - Alfred Reed (1921-2005) / arr. James Curnow (1943)

Greensleeves | Mannheim Steamroller Edition - traditional / arr. Chip Davis (1947) and Robert Longfield (1947)

Sleigh Ride (1948) - Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)

Overture in B-Flat (1966)

"Overture in B-flat is a spirited composition written in a contemporary manner and in one tempo throughout. The opening sounds are those of energetic brass fanfares answered by legato woodwind passages. This is followed by a brief developmental section ending in transitional material which leads to the first thematic statement." -Program Note from Program Notes for Band

Trilogy for Band (1964) (mvt. I and II)

"James Clifton Williams Jr. (23 March 1923, Traskwood, Ark. – 12 February 1976, Miami, Fla.) was an American composer...Clifton Williams received the prestigious Ostwald Award in 1956 for his first composition for band, Fanfare and Allegro. He repeated his success in 1957 when he won again with his Symphonic Suite. In addition to his many other honors, those most recently listed include election to membership in the American Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity of America, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Music conferred by the National Conservatory of Music at Lima, Peru." -Wind Repertory Project

Army of the Nile (1941)

Army of the Nile was written as a tribute to General Sir Archibald Wavell’s inspiring victories in the Western Desert Campaign in 1941.

Faeries (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies) (1891/2004)

"Adapted from Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, this interesting and unique version is funky, yet tastefully sophisticated. Classical charm with a contemporary Mannheim Steamroller attitude." -Program Note from the Publisher

Russian Christmas Music (1944/1990)

Reed was commissioned to write Russian Christmas Music a mere 14 days before it was scheduled to be performed and broadcast live on NBC. Originally written in November 1944, the work was first performed in December of that year in Denver, Colorado. Two years later, the piece was elaborated and revised, and in that form was one of the three prize-winning work in the 1947 Columbia University contest for new serious music for symphonic band.

An ancient Russian Christmas carol (Carol of the Little Russian Children) is mixed with motives from orthodox liturgical music from the Eastern Orthodox Church. Though set as a single piece, the composer originally subtitled the four easily separated sections Children's Carol, Antiphonal Chant, Village Song, and Cathedral Chorus. Reed also utilized this theme as well as the “Cathedral Chorus” section as source material for Slavonic Folk Suite, a piece written for novice musicians.

- Program Notes excerpted from score and Western Michigan University Symphonic Band concert program, 21 November 2021

Greensleeves (trad.)

It is generally agreed that the melody we know as Greensleeves is probably the second oldest piece of secular music in our Western culture, its origins having been traced back to about 1360. While we are not certain this was the original title, it is known that in the latter 14th century, English ladies wore gowns with great billowing sleeves, and the lyrics that have come down to us speak of a lover's lament over his lady's cruel treatment of him by a lady clad in a dress of green sleeves.

By the time of William Shakespeare, this song had already become a classic and he made use of it in two of his plays, most notably in the Merry Wives of Windsor. Over 300 years later, the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams used this melody as an intermezzo between two acts of his opera Sir John in Love, which was based on the same play. Since then the tune has been adapted as the basis for at least one Christmas carol (What Child is This?), several popular songs, and even by the Swingle Singers on one of their albums. In addition, it has been performed instrumentally by groups of all sizes and styles from full symphony orchestra to small jazz and rock groups.

- Program notes from score of Greensleeves arranged by Alfred Reed

Mannheim Steamroller has a long tradition of unique and creative holiday settings. This adaptation for band from A Fresh Aire Christmas starts out calmly with woodwinds and a flugelhorn solo, then uses a variety of textures and counter lines to build intensity throughout, culminating in a powerful full ensemble statement.

- Program Note from publisher

Sleigh Ride (1948)

Sleigh Ride is a light orchestra standard whose music was composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had formed the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946, and he finished the work in February 1948. The original recordings were instrumental versions. The lyrics, about riding in a sleigh and other fun wintertime activities, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950. The orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra. A selection of the artists who have recorded it include Herb Alpert, The Andrews Sisters, The Carpenters, Bing Crosby, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, the amazing Debbie Gibson, The Muppets, and Andy Williams.

- Program Note from Wikipedia