Purdue News

"Windworks" features works drawn from opera and the Olympics WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Dabbling in four centuries of music, Purdue Bands' "Windworks" concert will explore everything from Renaissance works to the operatic writings of 19th century German composer Richard Wagner and 20th century pieces by film composer John Williams. Reservations are not needed for the free concert, which will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St. There will be short programs by three different ensembles: University Concert Band, Collegiate Band and Varsity Band. Fans of John Williams' movie music, from such films as "Star Wars," will hear familiar musical lines in "Symphonic Marches." Williams' music will be performed by the Collegiate Band, under the direction of William D. Kisinger, associate professor of bands. The march medley includes themes from "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," along with the "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" Williams composed for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The orchestration for the medley was crafted by Paul Lavender, vice president of Hal Leonard Music Publishing and father of Eric Lavender, a trumpeter with the University Concert Band. Collegiate Band also will sample music of the Renaissance era with "Courtly Airs and Dances" and a "Toccata" by Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi. Varsity Band, under the direction of assistant professor of bands Pamela J. Nave, revisits the 20th century with such pieces as "On the Wings of the Chosen" by Roland Barrett and "Silvercrest" by James Swearingen. Legendary opera composer Richard Wagner will be saluted by University Concert Band with its presentation of "Ride of the Valkyries" from "Die Walkure." Wagner felt operatic music should reinforce the opera's dramatic content. "He developed the use of the leitmotiv or leading motif as a principle of musical unity," said David A. Leppla, University Concert Band director and head of Purdue University Bands. "His dramatic musical structure depended on the interweaving of melodies, or fragments of melody, associated with characters, incidents or ideas in the drama." In "Ride of the Valkyries" the audience hears, first in the horns and trombones, and later in the entire brass section, the leitmotiv Wagner created for the Valkyries' return from the battlefield. Even those unfamiliar with the opera know this group of legendary women by its most famous member, Bruennhilde. As the "fat lady" who has to sing for the opera to be over, she's been the focus of many comedy sketches and television commercials. Other featured works by the University Concert Band include "Above and Beyond" by John Tatgenhorst, "British Eighth" by Zo Elliott and "New York: 1927" by Warren Barker. The University Concert, Collegiate and Varsity bands will next be featured at the Purdue Bands Showcase April 21-22. CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations, (765) 496-6785. To the Purdue News and Photos Page