Thursday, November 3, 2011

University of Alaska Wind Ensemble Plays 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' of William Grant Still Nov. 4, 9 & 11

[William Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music, and is used with permission]

AfriClassical learned from The Peninsula Clarion on Nov. 3, 2011 that a work of William Grant Still (1895-1978) will be performed tomorrow by the University Wind Ensemble of the University of Alaska Anchorage. We were able to have a phone conversation today with Prof. Mark Wolbers of the Music Department. He will conduct the Ensemble, and told us that the work of William Grant Still which is on the program is Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the first movement from The American scene: 5 suites for young Americans, which Still composed in 1959. The free performance at Noon on Friday, Nov. 4 will take place at Kenai Central High School Auditorium. It will be repeated Nov. 9 and 11 at other locations:

Green and Gold News
University of Alaska Anchorage
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Friday, Nov. 4, 12 p.m., Kenai Central High School Auditorium
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m., Service High School Cafeteria
Friday, Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m., South High School Auditorium
The University Wind Ensemble has three upcoming performances. Come hear as they play music by John Ireland, Bernhard Heiden, William Grant Still and Peter Mennin. Mark Wolbers to conduct, with saxophone soloist Richard Zelinsky. Admission is free."


Here is the article in the Peninsula Clarion:
November 3, 2011
UAA Wind Ensemble Saxophone artist Rick Zelinsky, a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, performs
By Staff Report
Peninsula Clarion
The University of Alaska Wind Ensemble will play a free concert at noon Friday at Kenai Central High School's Renee C. Henderson Auditorium.
The program will feature historic masterworks from 1943-1956 for wind band by John Ireland, Bernard Heiden, William Grant Still, and Peter Mennin. Featured soloist will be UAA Saxophone Instructor Rick Zelinsky in Diversion for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble by Heiden. This concert is presented as part of the UAA Wind Ensemble's Fall Tour 2011. Zelinsky is a saxophone artist and teaches saxophone at UAA and also sixth-grade band in the Anchorage School District. He performs regularly at Anchorage's SubZero, Sullivan's and the Tap Root and is the founder and director of the state's popular summer band program.

“Wolbers is Professor of Music at UAA where he serves as Division Head for Wind and Percussion Studies, Conductor of the University Wind Ensemble and professor of clarinet. Wolbers participates annually in the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Music Festival, and is a founding member of the UAA faculty trio Alaska Pro Musica. The UAA Wind Ensemble is dedicated to presenting outstanding public performances of the most significant repertoire written for wind band.”

William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com, which includes this entry:

“The American scene: 5 suites for young Americans, for orchestra (1959). Mission Viejo CA: WGS Music. Duration: 50:00.
----- selections, arr. for band. 1. Tomb of the unknown soldier; 2. A New Orleans night; 3. Berkshire night; 4. Tribal dance; 5. Grand Teton.
CD: Northern Arizona Wind Symphony; Patricia Hoy, conductor. NAUWS-003 (1995).”

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