WSU Symphonic Band (Ogden: Nov 9)

Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts
What: WSU Symphonic Band
When: Tuesday November 9, 7:30 pm
Where: Austad Auditorium, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
Cost: $5/$4Those with military identification receive the student price
Dee Events Center Tickets: 1-800-WSU-TIKS

The Weber State University Department of Performing Arts presents the WSU Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. Thomas Root, on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Austad Auditorium, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $5/$4. Those with military identification will receive the student price. Tickets can be purchased at the Dee Events Center Ticket Office: 1-800-WSU-TIKS or at the Browning Center Box Office beginning one hour before curtain. Children 8 years and older are welcome to attend.

The concert begins with the traditional National Anthem stirringly arranged by Luigi Zaninnelli and with colors presented by the WSU ROTC Colorguard. Following the opening ceremony the first concert work will be a powerful overture titled “Canzona” by American composer Peter Mennin. This work was part of a continuing series of commissions from Mennin in cooperation with Edwin Franko Goldman and was first performed by the Goldman band.

Following this work the Symphonic Band will perform one of the most moving works by early American composer, William Billings, an individual now seen as a major figure in American music. “When Jesus Wept” is a round, a portion of his New England Tryptich, originally written by William Schumann for orchestra in 1956 and subsequently transcribed for band. The third and dramatic final movement of this work, “Chester,” will follow and conclude this segment of the concert.

Student conductor and Music Education major, Michael Crookston, will then conduct “Aire” (Dublinesque), a beautiful band original based on a Billy Joel piano work, and arranged by Diana Ackerman. The concert will conclude with movements 1, 3 and 4 of SymphonyNo. 3 of Vittorio Giannini. Giannini is considered to be on a par with Hindemith, Persichetti, Gould, and Creston as an influential 20th Century American composer,and this work shows his mastery of expression and musical color, with unparalled musical drama concluding the final movement.


For more information about this concert, contact Dr. Thomas Root, 626-6443 or troot@weber.edu