Purdue News
Purdue News
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February 23, 2004 Purdue Bands celebrates Leap Year with musical kaleidoscopeWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Leap year adds an extra day to February this year, and Purdue Bands plans to fill that bonus day with a kaleidoscope of concert band music at its Windworks concert on Sunday (2/29). Set for 2:30 p.m. at the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, the free concert features the Varsity, Collegiate and Purdue Concert bands. The Purdue Concert Band, conducted by David Leppla, will set the tone for the afternoon concert with one of contemporary composer Philip Sparke's newest works, "Kaleidoscope." "The whole piece resembles the effect of a kaleidoscope that juxtaposes small fragments of color in constantly changing patterns," Leppla says. "In this case, the musical colors are meant to depict fragments of life in Brugg, Switzerland – its geography, its traditions and its people." The town of Brugg, near the German border in northern Switzerland, commissioned Sparke to write the tune for summer 2003 music festivals held in Switzerland, Leppla says. The piece takes the form of a set of five variations on "Das Brugger Lied," or "The Brugg Song," which is the traditional song of the town. The Purdue Concert Band takes listeners on a hop across Europe to Austria with "Montana Fanfare," another recent addition to concert band literature. Composed in 2002 by Thomas Doss, the piece was a birthday present for Austrian conductor Walter Rescheneder and takes its inspiration from mountain hikes in the Salzkammergut region of Austria. "The powerful fanfare exudes feelings of enthusiasm and triumph," Leppla says. "Those familiar with the works of John Williams will also notice the inspiration Doss has taken from some of Williams' more majestic works, including his Olympic fanfares." Also on the program are "Dance of the Comedians" from Bedrich Smetana's opera "The Bartered Bride," which takes place in Czechoslovakia; "Eine Kleine Yiddishe Ragmusik," a synthesis of traditional ragtime and Jewish folk music by the British composer Adam Gorb; and Jules Massenet's "Meditation" from the opera "Thais," which takes place in France. Featured soloist on "Meditation" is flutist Elizabeth Durrah, a junior pharmacy major from Dublin, Ohio. The Collegiate Band, directed by William Kisinger, explores American themes with W. Paris Chambers' "Chicago Tribune March," James Syler's "Country Bandstand" and Morton Gould's Cowboy Rhapsody' anchoring their portion of the leap year concert. The Varsity Band, under the direction of Pamela Nave, will perform Brian Balamage's "Flight of the Griffin" and James Swearingen's "Exordium: Prelude to a New Era." The three bands will next appear together in concert in April as part of the season finale, Purdue Bands Showcase. For more information on Purdue's bands and orchestra, call (765) 496-6785 or visit the Purdue University Bands web site. Writer: Kathy Matter, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu Source: David Leppla, (765) 494-0770, daleppla@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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