Washington Wind Symphony: The Stories We Tell

Leonard Bernstein — Overture to Candide
Carl Orff — Carmina Burana
Martin Ellerby — Paris Sketches
Julie Giroux — Riften Wed
Lewis Norfleet — Shogun
Clare Grundman — Selected works
John Krance — Selected works

Parker Pixby, guest conductor

Leonard Bernstein (arr. Clare Grundman) – Overture to Candide
Martin Ellerby – Paris Sketches
Julie Giroux – Riften Wed
Lewis Norfleet – Shogun
Carl Orff (arr. John Krance) – Carmina Burana

Tickets: $15 ($10 seniors; students and youth age 17 & under FREE)

When was the last time a live band performance blew your socks off? That's the experience you can expect on April 28 when the Eastside's premier wind ensemble takes over the stage at Redmond Performing Arts Center. Guest conductor Parker Bixby has assembled one of our most memorable programs yet, presenting music that will both delight and dazzle your senses.

- Shogun, by Lewis Norfleet -- Composed for the Union Hill High School Wind Ensemble's performance at the 2012 National Concert Band Festival, Shogun is a collection of scenes depicting the war-like culture during the era of Shoguns, the military dictators of Japan. Director of Bands at Central Washington University, composer Lewis Norfleet achieved a dramatic finale featuring traditional taiko drums and a chorus of piccolos.

- Overture to Candide, by Leonard Bernstein, arr. By Clare Grundman -- Bernstein wrote the American classic Candide in 1956, calling it a "comic operetta." It's based on Voltaire's satirical novella of 1759 and tells of the misadventures of Candide, a naive and simple young man, and his sweetheart, Cunégonde. Before he died, Bernstein said of his favorite composition, "There is more of me in that piece than anything else I've done."

- Paris Sketches, by Martin Ellerby -- In four movements, the composer whisks listeners off on a wistful and poetic aural tour of the City of Lights. Ellerby sprinkles his piece with depictions of the city's characteristic bells, sirens and car horns. Listen carefully for popular musical quotes from other famous composers, including Maurice Ravel and Hector Berlioz.

- Riften Wed, by Julie Giroux -- Giroux penned this piece in 2014, inspired by the popular role-playing video game Skyrim. For game players, weddings in Riften, a gritty, crime-filled city within Skyrim, are as much about survival as they are about imagined love. Take a break from your digital devices and enjoy the reality of this work's exquisite harmonies and soothing musical themes.

- Carmina Burana, by Carl Orff, arr. by John Krance -- One of the most frequently performed choral works of the 21st century, this epic composition's title translates to "Songs of Beuren," the location of a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria. Krance's dazzling wind band arrangement holds true to the spirit of nature, love, and temptation emoted in the original score.

You'll hear these selections and more. But be warned -- the toughest thing about attending this concert may be choosing your favorite. Get your tickets and join us April 28 at the Redmond Performing Arts Center (located at Redmond High School). You'll love the ideal acoustics, comfortable seating, as well as plenty of free parking!

About Washington Wind Symphony

http://www.washingtonwindsymphony.org/