Purdue News

September 22, 2000 Purdue Bands ignites 2000-01 concert season with 'Fall Fireworks' WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.– "Vesuvius," a Frank Ticheli symphonic band work with lots of firepower, provides the spark for the "Fall Fireworks" concert by the Purdue Symphonic and Fall Concert Bands on Oct. 1. The free event, set for 2:30 p.m. at the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, kicks off the 2000-01 concert season for Purdue University Bands. Since explosive moments are often surrounded by calmer times, the Fall Concert Band opens the concert with an array of works reflecting the joy of everyday life. Such pieces as "Best Broadway Marches," "Well Met, My Own True Love" and "A Bernstein Tribute" fill the portion of the concert directed by M.T. "Mo" Trout, assistant professor of bands. Things definitely heat up when the Symphonic Band, directed by Jay Gephart, assistant professor of bands, takes the stage. "Vesuvius," a brand new Ticheli work released in 1999, is very evocative, Gephart said. "It really paints a picture of what life would be like around the time the big eruption demolished Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy in 79 A.D." A recurrent theme threads itself through the piece that is written as a rondo. "That theme is a dance that recalls the lifestyles of people living around Vesuvius," Gephart said. "Toward the middle and end, the massive amount of crashing brass depicts the violence of the volcanic eruption that destroys that life. It's a very powerful piece that's exciting and fun to play." The concert concludes with more fireworks, this time produced by a contemporary transcription of Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Tumblers." "The demands on the woodwinds are very great. They have a really fiery passage that takes a great deal of technique," Gephart said. Written in the form of a galop, "it's a colorful, lighthearted piece," he added. "Dance of the Tumblers" was virtually unknown three years ago when the Indiana University Wind Ensemble introduced it at a national music educators' conference in Cincinnati. "After they played it, it proved to be such a barnburner that all sorts of directors and conductors came up and wanted to know where they found it, and how to get ahold of it. It became very popular overnight," Gephart said. The Fall Concert Band and Symphonic Band will present one more joint concert his semester, set for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19, also at the Long Center. For more information on all Purdue Bands concerts, which also include jazz, big band and orchestra events, call (765) 496-6785. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785; kcmatter@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page