Tuesday, March 1, 2022
8 p.m.
The Ohio State University School of Music
Mershon Auditorium
UNIVERSITY BAND
Dustin Ferguson, conductor
Alex Mondragon, guest conductor
COLLEGIATE WINDS
Phillip Day, conductor
Christopher Hoch, guest conductor
Alex Mondragon, guest conductor
Josh Reynolds, guest conductor
PROGRAM
University Band
CELEBRATION AND DANCE (1991)
James Swearingen (b. 1947)
James Swearingen, an American composer and arranger from Ohio, holds a Master’s degree from Ohio State, and remains on staff with The Ohio State University Marching Band as an arranger. In addition to composing, he remains an active guest clinician and conductor worldwide.
Swearingen’s contributions to band literature have been immense, with over 450 works published representing an array of styles. He is also a member the American Band Masters Association, one of the most prestigious organizations in America and has been awarded countless awards for his compositions.
Celebration and Dance is a joyous composition beginning with a triumphant fanfare to set the tone for any occasion. Followed by a jovial and exciting dance theme, a beautiful interlude, and closing with the return to exciting melodies that will make an audience feel the urge to dance!
AS SUMMER WAS JUST BEGINNING (1994)
Larry Daehn (b. 1939)
The composer writes:
James Byron Dean (1931–1955)
I liken him to a kind of star, or a comet that fell through the sky, and everybody talks about it yet today. — Julie Harris
He seems to capture that moment of youth ... where we're all desperately seeking to find ourselves. — Dennis Hopper
He is not our hero because he was perfect, but because he perfectly represented the damaged but beautiful soul of our time. — Andy Warhol
James Byron Dean (1931–1955) experienced the brightest and briefest movie career ever. In 16 months he made three movies: East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant. Only the first had been released when he was killed in a car accident at age 24. His death on September 30, 1955 sparked an unparalleled outpouring of sorrow. For three years after his death, Warner Brothers received more letters to him than to any living actor. And the James Dean phenomenon has never really ended. Thousands still come to the little town of Fairmount, Indiana, to see the farm where he grew up and to visit his grave there. His familiar image appears worldwide on posters and T-shirts. He has been the subject of many books, songs, TV documentaries, plays, movies and hundreds of magazine articles. Forty years after his death, James Dean is still a hero to his own generation and to succeeding generations who keep his legend alive.
People were robbed of him. Whenever you're robbed of something, it lingers with you. — Martin Landau
A bronze bust of James Dean by artist Kenneth Kendall stands near Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, California. There is a Greek inscription on the right shoulder which, when translated reads, "As Summer Was Just Beginning." This sentiment, from a painting by John La Farge, is a Greek epitaph concerning the death of a young person. I chose it as the title for this piece.
I loosely based the main melody (heard at the beginning and at measures 33 and 57) on an old British Isles folksong, "The Winter it is past, and the Summer's here at last." I chose it because Dean's Quaker heritage goes back to England, Ireland and Scotland, and because this simple bittersweet song about summer seemed appropriate for remembering James Dean.
LINDBERGH VARIATIONS, Op. 36 (1991)
Robert Sheldon (b. 1954)
This superbly crafted set of variations embodies thoughtful compositional techniques and colorful orchestration. Inspired by the Lindbergh Memorial to Children near the school that commissioned the piece, the concrete statue rests atop a sculpted shell and features a sleeping baby holding a single rose. Erected as a result of the kidnapping of the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, the sleeping child brought about the idea using a main theme that resembled a nursery rhyme song. The theme evolves through several variations, the last in which the hymn, "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head," an Appalachian folk song, emerges gradually, rising in its presence until the end of the piece. — Note by the publisher
BURMA PATROL MARCH (1942/2009)
Karl King (1891–1971)
arr. Swearingen (b. 1947)
Burma Patrol has been a long-time favorite of march aficionados around the world who recognize quality music when they hear it. It goes without saying that Karl King was a master at creating popular, tuneful marches, and no concert would be complete without one of his rousing renditions! It is a real treat to have this edition available. A real toe-tapping experience, this is another wonderful march from the long list of gems by this master composer. — Note from the publisher
AMERICAN RIVERSONGS (1991)
Pierre La Plante (b. 1943)
Alex Mondragon, conductor
Pierre La Plante (b. 1943), of French-Canadian descent, was born in West Allis, Wisconsin and grew up in Sturgeon Bay, WI. La Plante earned both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A successful music educator, he taught in the public schools of Wisconsin from 1967–2001, and his many years of teaching have proven very helpful when writing music for young players. His catalog of music has been performed around the world by ensembles of varying level.
Commissioned by the 1988–89 Oberlin High School Band (Oberlin, Ohio), American Riversongs is based on a set of folk tunes that originated “when the rivers and waterways were the lifeline of a growing nation.” The piece begins with an exciting setting of “Down the River” and then transitions to the heartfelt, flowing melody, “Shenandoah.” A short transition leads to a brass band setting of Stephen Foster’s “The Glendy Burk.” A second theme is introduced by the piccolo, flutes and tambourine which is based on a Creole bamboula tune that likely originated in the Louisiana Delta region. The bamboula theme is energetic and highly syncopated which helps bring the piece to a “rowdy, foot-stomping close!”
Collegiate Winds
FANFARE — HAYABUSA (2011)
Satoshi Yagasawa (b. 1975)
Hayabusa (Japanese for “Peregrine falcon”) was a robotic spacecraft developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to return a sample of material from a small near-Earth asteroid to Earth for further analysis. The Hayabusa probe launched on May 9, 2003 and returned to Earth on June 13, 2010 as the first-ever spacecraft to obtain surface samples from an asteroid. This fanfare was commissioned by the band of NEC Tamagawa, conducted by Ikuo Inagaki, to celebrate the success of the Hayabusa mission.
SONDHEIM! (2021)
Stephen Sondheim (1930−2021)
arr. Stephen Bulla
Josh Reynolds, guest conductor
One of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim passed away on November 26, 2021. This medley, expertly crafted by Stephen Bulla, features some of Sondheim’s most famous selections, including “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” (Sweeney Todd), “Putting It Together” (Sunday in the Park with George), “Send In the Clowns” (A Little Night Music), “Old Friends” (Merrily We Roll Along), “Children Will Listen” (Into the Woods), and “Into the Woods.”
DUM SPIRO SPERO (2009)
Chris Pilsner (b. 1986)
Alex Mondragon, guest conductor
Dum Spiro Spero is a Latin phrase meaning “While I breathe, I hope.” Pilsner remarks, “When I read that phrase for the first time, I was taken back by the incredible amount of power it held and immediately knew it would be the basis for a new piece. When I started writing, my goal was to write something as deeply emotional and human as the title was.” Dum Spiro Spero opens gently and takes the listener on an emotional journey that reaches a triumphant climax before ending as intimately as it began. As Pilsner writes, “…the human quality to the music is what gives Dum Spiro Spero a powerful sense of grace and splendor.” — Alex Mondragon
Chris Pilsner (b. 1986) is a composer, conductor and educator whose music has received numerous performances around the world. His works for wind ensemble, chamber ensemble and orchestra have received acclaim from listeners and performers alike. Pilsner holds a Master of Music degree in composition from Central Michigan University as well as a Bachelor of Composition degree and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Northern Colorado. After serving as a music educator in the public schools of Colorado, Pilsner now resides in Colorado where he composes full-time.
ENCORE! (2010)
Yo Goto (b. 1958)
Christopher Hoch, guest conductor
Encore! was commissioned by the Ishikawa Prefecture Band Association to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010. The commissioning request was that the piece be fun and appropriate as an encore. I made it simple and enjoyable for everyone. The title was selected hoping for a fun, grand finale. It also means “more” and “again.” My hope is for performers and audience to enjoy music, and for Ishikawa Prefecture Band Association to nourish its band movements and activities. I could not ask for more if people come to love music even more by experiencing this work. — Yo Goto
ROSTERS
University Band
FLUTE
Marley Bielek-Welsh
Jamel Lee
Emma Smith
Aubrey Svensson
Sarah Wu
CLARINET
Jacob Claggett
Savanna Gasper
Leena Jafri
Bradley Krak
Sabrina Rancourt
Cassie Wasco
Elizabeth Yirava
OBOE
Lauren Yoder
BASSOON
Braden Stewart
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Nick Berkebile
Jack Burkhart
Gabe Ware
TENOR SAXOPHONE
Joseph Charek
BARITONE SAXOPHONE
Daisy Beale
Adam Shand
HORN
Maren Beall
Clark Hou
Jayden Kendall
Avery Voress
TRUMPET
Spencer Cui
Maria Fiorta
Evan Freeland
Alex Hartsough
Blake Hassay
Kaimo Pamesa
Joshua Silver
Ann Stallsmith
Jess Vanek
Parker Weber
William Weisenburger
TROMBONE
Jacob Gnua
Meghana Kanathur
Kayla Kendall
Andrew Kueterman
Andric McNabb
Callum Murphy
Jack Sullivan
Eric Tyk
Nathan Vernon
EUPHONIUM
Jake Blevins
Ethan Bowerstock
Abbey Delong
TUBA
Ethan Hughes
Zibing Wang
PERCUSSION
Brianna Cochill
Josh DeKeersgieter
Kylie Hicks
Travis Jahna
Brandon Tondra
Margaret Zhou
Collegiate Winds
Musicians are listed alphabetically by section.
PICCOLO
Kayla Reid
FLUTE
Sumi Chen
Hannah Everding
Makyla Ferris
Kayla Reid
Coral Varian *
OBOE
Sarah Wagner
Maddie Wittman *
CLARINET
Zach Baruch
Brady Cloyd *
Olivia Edwards
Hannah Eggenschwiler
Bella Haines
Alexandria Summers
BASS CLARINET
Swaraj Patnaik
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Kira Katterle
Ben Syme *
TENOR SAXOPHONE
Brandon Pisell
BARITONE SAXOPHONE
Chris White
TRUMPET
Duke Biscotti
Rebecca Dunn
Zach Heffner
Julia Jenkins
Joel Kellar*
Jonathan Levene
Evan Philipp
Andrew Planitz
Silas Stephens
HORN
Leila Culp
Annalise Johnson *
Sarah Jones
MacKenzie Kazin
Noah Thomas
TROMBONE
Anthony Frankowski
Brianna Heath
Safa Jeelani
Ash Marcum
Hikari Nawa
Nathan Palmer *
Sophie Rowland (bass)
Jordan Updegrove
EUPHONIUM
Zach Ferko
Evan Shaheen *
TUBA
Chris Cortese *
Sydney Reeves
Kelly Scott
PERCUSSION
Philip Betts *
Andrew Bourget
Rohan Rindani
Kyle Turner
Noor Yunis
* principal
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