Huldigungsmarsch (1864)
"Homage March"
RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883)
ED. SCHAEFER | 1813-1883
Huldigungsmarsch (Homage March) was written for military band in 1864 in Starnberg, Germany. for the 19th birthday of King Ludwig II. The first of Wagner’s three large-scale marches, this work, with its confident melodic lines and rich counterpoint, speaks the language of the mature composer who is certain not only of his technique but of his goal. This march is the composer’s principal contribution in his small legacy of original works written for winds.
- Program Note from Appalachian State University Concert Band concert program, 20 February 2017
Stillwater (2019)
KELIJAH DUNTON | B. 1999
Meeka Sivilay, conductor
Inspired by the beauty of a small town, Stillwater Minnesota. This town has a big lake in its center, and out of everyone’s backyard it could be seen. During the winter, the very top of the lake freezes and creates this tranquil effect that could not be seen, but heard... Why is this important? We as people forget sometimes that we are so much more deep and vast beneath our hard surfaces... But if we just take a moment to listen within ourselves; we discover our passions, our longings, and our sense of belongings.
- Composer's Notes
Theme and Variations,
op. 43a (1943)
ARNOLD SCHÖNBERG | 1874-1951
Theme and Variations is comprised of a 21-measure theme followed by seven variations. At the onset, the composition appears to be firmly rooted in the key of G minor. For there,however, the composer exercises his compositional mastery to create seven variations of increasing complexity which often mask the melody with various contrapunctal techniques. The original theme returns toward the end of the work, culminating in a subtle tip of the hat to George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
- Program Note from Sonoma State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert program, 21 March 2018
On Parade (1914)
AMANDA C.E. ALDRIDGE | 1866-1956
Rachel Breaux, conductor
Amanda Aldridge was a British opera singer, teacher and composer, under the pseudonym of Montague Ring. She was the third child of African American Shakespearian actor Ira Frederick Aldridge and his second wife, the Swedish Amanda Brandt. Aldridge studied voice under Jenny Lind and Sir George Henschel at the Royal College of Music in London, and harmony and counterpoint with Frederick Bridge and Francis Edward Gladstone.
After completing her studies, Aldridge worked as a concert singer, piano accompanist, and voice teacher. A throat condition ended her concert appearances, and she turned to teaching and published about thirty songs between the years 1907 and 1925 in a romantic parlour style, as well as instrumental music in other styles.
Paris Sketches (1994)
MARTIN ELLERBY | B. 1957
Sami Ruusuvouri, guest conductor
I. Saint-Germain-de-Prés
II. Pigalle
III. Pére Lachaise
IV. Les Halles
British composer Martin Ellerby has distinguished himself as a composer of accessible and sophisticated music in several media, including wind band...
This is my personal tribute to a city I love, and each movement pays homage to some part of the French capital and to other composers who lived, worked or passed through – rather as Ravel did in his own tribute to an earlier master in Le Tombeau de Couperin. Running like a unifying thread through the whole piece is the idea of bells – a prominent feature of Parisian life.
- composer note
PERSONNEL
Sami Ruusuvuori
Doctor of Music Sami Ruusuvuori serves as the Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Police Symphonic Band. Ruusuvuori has previously held prestigious positions, including the conductor of the Representative Orchestra of the President of the Republic, the Guards Band, and the Chief Conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces. His extensive knowledge of classical, jazz, and commercial music has allowed him to collaborate with many of Finland’s top musicians.
Ruusuvuori has led ensembles on tours across the United States, Japan, Russia, Europe, the Baltic States, and all the Nordic countries. He has also served as a guest conductor in Europe, the Nordic countries, the Baltic States, Russia, and the USA. Additionally, he has been a jury member for several international competitions. As an educator, he has worked at the Sibelius Academy and has lectured and taught at numerous universities and master classes.
A strong advocate for new music, Sami Ruusuvuori has commissioned and premiered many new pieces. He has conducted 13 recordings and numerous YouTube videos. Ruusuvuori earned his doctorate in music in the spring of 2022, with a thesis on the symphonic wind band and the European repertoire composed for it. His research has garnered widespread international interest. Since 2023, Ruusuvuori has served as the President of the Finnish Wind Band Association.
Robert J. Ambrose
Conductor Robert J. Ambrose enjoys a highly successful and diverse career as a dynamic and engaging musician. His musical interests cross many genres and can be seen in the wide range of professional activities he pursues. Dr. Ambrose studied formally at Boston College, Boston University and Northwestern University, where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting.
Dr. Ambrose has conducted professionally across the United States as well as in Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. His interpretations have earned the enthusiastic praise of many leading composers including Pulitzer Prize winners Leslie Bassett, Michael Colgrass and John Harbison. Dr. Ambrose is considered an authority on Arnold Schoenberg’s landmark piece Pierrot Lunaire, having conducted it several times in three different countries. He has conducted over two dozen premiere performances including works by Michael Colgrass, Jonathan Newman, Joel Puckett, Christopher Theofanidis and Joseph Turrin. In addition, a recent performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms under his direction has been given repeated airings on Georgia Public Radio.
Dr. Ambrose is founder and music director of the Atlanta Chamber Winds a professional dectet specializing in the promotion of music by emerging composers as well as lesser-known works of established composers. Their premiere compact disc, Music from Paris, was released in 2009 on the Albany Records label and has received outstanding reviews in both Fanfare and Gramophone magazines.
As a guitarist, Robert Ambrose has performed in dozens of jazz ensembles, combos, rock bands and pit orchestras. His rock band “Hoochie Suit,” formed with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, received rave reviews throughout the Chicago area and performed for such distinguished guests as Yo-Yo Ma and Daniel Barenboim.
Dr. Ambrose currently serves as director of bands, associate professor of music and associate director of the School of Music at Georgia State University, a Research I institution of 32,000 students located in Atlanta, GA. As director of bands he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, maintains a highly selective studio of graduate students in the Master of Music in wind band conducting degree program, and oversees a large, comprehensive band program comprised of four concert ensembles and three athletic bands. He lives in Peachtree City, GA with his wife Sarah Kruser Ambrose, a professional flute player, and daughters Isabelle and Hannah.
Meeka Sivilay
Graduate Teaching Assistant & Wind Band Conducting Student
Meeka Sivilay is currently pursuing the Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting degree at Georgia State University under the guidance of Robert J. Ambrose. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the University Bands, she conducts and coaches a variety of ensembles, assists with undergraduate conducting instruction, and supports the operations of a large, comprehensive band program.
Prior to her move to Georgia, Ms. Sivilay served as a band director in the Mountain Home (AR) School District, where she conducted the junior high band, taught beginning woodwind classes and assisted with all aspects of the high school band program. Along with her official duties, she assisted with the guard programs and trained marching band student conductors.
Meeka graduated Cum Laude from Arkansas Tech University with the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. Her primary teachers were Dan Belongia and Karen Futterer. During her tenure at Arkansas Tech, Meeka served as a student conductor for various ensembles, was as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, and served on local and district-wide executive boards of the Tau Beta Sigma music fraternity.
Rachel Breaux
Graduate Teaching Assistant & Wind Band Conducting Student
Rachel Breaux, a native of Temple, GA, is pursuing the Masters of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting. She is a recent graduate of the University of West Georgia where she earned the Masters of Music degree in Flute Performance. While at UWG, Rachel took advantage of conducting opportunities with the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joshua Byrd. She also holds a Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education from West Georgia.
As a performer, Rachel has studied privately with Elisa Lyle, Candance Keach, and Dr. Tammy Evans, and actively runs a private and sectional studio consisting of students within Carroll, Paulding, Fayette, and Coweta counties. She also participates in marching band instructional staff, flute sectional clinics, beginning and advanced conducting graduate teaching assistant instruction, theatre orchestra pits, and local church orchestras; including the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Roopville Baptist Church, Douglasville Baptist Church, and East Newnan Baptist Church.
On the side, Rachel specializes in social media and marketing for local organizations and honor bands. Her professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and the National Band Association.
She currently resides in Temple, GA with her 5-year old forever puppy, Oscar.