Join Us!
We've entered the 21st century as regional leaders in large ensemble performances - with exciting music, outstanding soloists and professional collaborative partners such as the Northern Plains Ballet. All we're missing is you. We want you to be a part of this dynamic, growing, and forward-looking experience, an experience that will be invaluable to you as you graduate from America's Leadership University.
If you would like to learn more about the Brass, Woodwind or Percussion Studies programs at U-Mary, receive a complimentary copy of our most recent band CD, Fanfares & Flourishes or receive complimentary copies of recent concert programs, contact:
Dennis Gowen
Director of Bands & Brass Studies
University of Mary
7500 University Drive
Bismarck, ND 58504
(800) 408-6279, ext. 8068
(701) 355-8068
dcgowen@umary.edu |
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2008-2009 Concert Season
Work is well underway in preparation for the upcoming concert season. A couple of featured works will include "Merry-Go-Round," by Philip Sparke and "Fairest of the Fair," by John Philip Sousa, composed 100 years ago in 1908. Please check back later this summer as plans are finalized for another exciting year of great band music!
2007-2008 Concert Season
What a wonderful time we had this past year with our rehearsals and concerts! Our primary fall 2007 performance opened with a piece that's 450 years old by Antwerp composer Tielman Susato. "Dancing and Drumming," which is its more modern title, was skillfully arranged by Bertoff and featured our fine percussion section. "Puszta," by Jan Van der Roost was also a featured work, capturing the sounds of the prairies in Hungary where gypsies used to move around with their wild horses. Our woodwinds were quite prominently displayed in this work, as well as in a movement from "Scheherazade," by Rimsky-Korsakov, titled "The Sea & Sinbad's Ship." Our outstanding brass section was the highlight of our closing number, "Slavic Scherzo," by Joseph Compello. I learned of this wonderfully catchy tune while conducting the J.W. Pepper Concert Band during their annual fall new music clinics -- what a great concert closer!
This past spring brought another opportunity to perform some great standard band works, in addition to introducing some newer ones. The recent composition "Summer Dances," by Brian Balmages, opened our program, followed by John Barnes Chance's timeless "Variations on a Korean Folk Song," based on the traditional Korean folk tune "Arrirang." Another oldie but goodie was "Prelude & Fugue in Bb Major," attributed to J. S. Bach and appearing first in his "Eight Little Preludes and Fugues." Traditional Baroque or Classical transcriptions play an important role in nearly every U-Mary band concert. Their skillful execution is the hallmark of an excellent band, and each member's musicianship matures greatly as the rehearsals progress. The U-Mary Concert Band also performed "Rush," by contemporary composer Samuel Hazo, and our performance concluded with a rousing rendition of Saint-Sa‘ns' "Pas Redouble."
2006-2007 Concert Season
What a wonderful time we had this past year with our rehearsals and concerts! Practice for our fall concert began with a variety of musical selections, some of which I found in a music lending library in Blue Hill, Maine, during our family’s trip to my home state. One of the “favorites” among band students everywhere is Johan de Meij’s “Lord of the Rings.” We had a great time performing the Gandalf movement for our always large and appreciative audience. Takamaza Sakai’s “Applause” was a big hit with band members and audience alike, while the Bach “Prelude and Fugue in G Minor” provided a wonderful sense of balance and elegance. The U-Mary Wind Ensemble’s performance of Bernstein’s beloved “Overture to Candide” capped off the concert with flair and exuberance!
In the spring of 2007, we revisited a couple of band masterpieces that led many band members to label our spring concert “the best combination of music possible!” With original band works like Holst’s “Suite in Eb” and the “Homage to Machaut” movement of the Medieval Suite by Ron Nelson (a 1994 U-Mary Artist/Conductor-in-Residence), the band was introduced to some of the great band masterworks. One of the big audience favorites was “Palladio” by Karl Jenkins – many know this tune by the phrase: “that music you always hear for those diamond commercials!” Our performance ended with “Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo” – a tribute to one of the greatest British band composers ever – Malcolm Arnold, who passed away in September 2006.
Highlights of Past Concert Seasons
