Washington Wind Symphony presents 'Voyages'
$10-$20
Klaus Badelt / Hans Zimmer — Pirates of the Caribbean
Samuel R. Hazo — Ride
Percy Grainger — Molly on the Shore
Frank Ticheli — Shenandoah
Alfred Reed — Armenian Dances
Klaus Badelt — Selected works
Karel Husa – Music for Prague 1968
Samuel Hazo – Ride
Percy Grainger – Molly on the Shore
Frank Ticheli – Shenandoah
Alfred Reed – Armenian Dances
Klaus Badelt – Pirates of the Caribbean
Ready to embark on a musical adventure at Kirkland Performance Center? Join us as conductor Dr. Ed Powell steers the Eastside's premier wind ensemble through some of the most dynamic band repertoire you're likely find this side of the Pacific Ocean, including:
Music for Prague 1968
This not-to-be-missed epic suite was written by Pulitzer-winning Czech composer Karel Husa just after the former Soviet Union crushed the Prague Spring reform movement in Czechoslovakia in 1968. Musical depictions scripted by Husa in this, his most popular work, include: piccolos as bird calls; trombones as air raid sirens; and timpani as tank canons.
Ride
Music educator Samuel Hazo was inspired to write this piece in 2002 after struggling to keep up with his lead-footed friend, Jack Stamp, as he followed him in his car through the winding roads of the Pennsylvania countryside. Imagine the thrill – or fear – Hazo felt as he musically recounts his memorable, 15-minute ride to Stamp's home.
Molly on the Shore
Australian-born composer Percy Grainger wrote this piece for strings in 1907 as a birthday gift for his mother. He rebelled against many traditional forms of music, instead striving to use variants of rhythm and pitch to make his music sound more "free" and original. Woodwind fans will especially appreciate the harmonic texture provided by the saxophones and clarinets in this popular work.
Shenandoah
Paying homage to the Virginia river and valley that bear its name, historians say "Shenandoah" was either named after Iroquois Chief Skenandoah or because it meant "Daughter of the Moon" to the Senedo tribe. In any case, listeners agree that Frank Ticheli's lyrical work offers an unusually rich variety of pleasing harmonies and sonic colors that evoke images of the famous river.
Armenian Dances
Composer Alfred Reed drew inspiration for this suite from Gomidas Vartabed, often credited as the founder of Armenian classical music for his work in preserving more than 4,000 folk songs of his homeland. Reed does an artful job of interweaving these traditional melodies into a spiritual romp – from a melancholy, pastoral scene to the celebratory excitement of a peasant's wedding dance.
Pirates of the Caribbean
What voyage would be complete without a visit from some zombie pirates? Arrrrgh-uably his most popular film score so far, Klaus Badelt wrote Pirates after already making a name for himself by composing music for the movies Gladiator, Mission: Impossible 2, and X-Men.
So unfurl your sails and join us for a musical journey you won't soon forget!
Admission: Adults $20; Seniors $15; Youth $10