UPEI Wind Symphony presents Angels in the Architecture
The UPEI Wind Symphony will perform its final recital of the Fall semester on Friday, November 25 at 7:30 pm at Park Royal United Church in Charlottetown. With performances in recent years at local Churches – Saint Dunstan’s Basilica and Zion Presbyterian – the Wind Symphony is continuing a tradition of performing beyond campus. The exceptional acoustics of Park Royal will make this performance memorable, and the seating capacity will allow for all Wind Symphony supporters to attend.
The centrepiece of this recital will be Frank Ticheli’s Angels in the Architecture, a massive, landmark work for the wind band medium. Opening with a single soprano voice and accompanied with crystal-like backgrounds, this work features contrasting sections of force and power with tranquil moments of lyricism and colour. The work unfolds as a dramatic conflict between the two extremes of human existence–one divine, the other evil. The work’s title is inspired by the Sydney Opera House itself, where it received its premier performance, with its halo-shaped acoustical ornaments hanging directly above the performance stage.
Featured soloist will be saxophonist Emily Proude, who will perform Claude T. Smith’s Fantasia, a work that exploits both the technical and lyrical qualities of the saxophone. Ms. Proude, a fourth-year Bachelor of Music student UPEI, is establishing a significant profile in performing many of the saxophone’s most challenging works with considerable poise and artistry. Currently, she is a student in the studio of Dr. Nicole Strum, and is principal saxophonist of the Wind Symphony and the UPEI Saxophone Quartet.
Under the direction of Dr. Karem J. Simon, the Wind Symphony is known for its programming of eclectic contemporary repertoire. James David’s All Dark Is Now No More is one such piece which includes electronics with the band. These electronics amount to granular synthesis – a process of breaking apart large sounds into many segments that are then rearranged into algorithmic clouds of digital chaos. Other pieces on the programme will include Derek Bermel’s quirky Ides March, Joaquin Turina’s colourful La Procession du Rocio, and Gordon Jacob’s classic An Original Suite.
Performances this Fall have brought the Wind Symphony to Saint John, New Brunswick, Amherst Nova Scotia, and Summerside, PEI. These represent UPEI’s commitment to community outreach while providing its music majors with additional performance exposure.
During the past eighteen years the Wind Symphony has produced an annual compact disc featuring selected repertoire from each year’s performances. Cathedrals, released in May 2010 received the 2011 Music PEI Award for Best Classical Recording. In February 2011 the Wind Symphony released its O Canada CD, a project exclusively for PEI public schools. Its most recent compact discs, Freebirds, Lord of the Rings, Four Horsemen, Rumpelstilzchen, Lincolnshire Posy, and Magnolia Star have been highly acclaimed.
Tickets for this performance at $15 Adults/Seniors and $10 Students may be acquired at the UPEI Music Department and at the admission’s desk the evening of the recital.
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
