Sounds of the Seasons 2009 - Program

As promised, I am providing the details of last evenings CSB concert. I will attempt to provide the program notes as well. So, unless you are a band geek, you might want to skip this post altogether.

Festival Prelude - "Praise Him" (Stephen Bulla)

A scintillating opener based on a well known gospel song of Fanny Crosby (1820-1915):
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!

Welcome & Prayer - Lt. Colonel Richard Vander Weele

Transcription - "Melodies of Dvorak" (arr. Steadman-Allen)

The music of the Czech composer Antonin Dvorad contains a wealth of lovely melody. Some of the best known, such as the Slavonic Dances are included. The closing section is a kaleidoscopic panorama in which tune succeeds tune in a rising tide, reaching full flood in a brilliant finish.

CSB Chorus - "He Leadeth Me" (Paul Kellner)

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - "Scherzo for Trombone and Band" (James Cheyne)

In the composer's words, this exciting work was "written as a portrait of Herb Bruce, illustrating various aspects of his playing, his technique and his soloistic excursions." In fact it is a tour de force for trombone, requiring fluid lyricism and virtuoso technique.

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - "Song to Lotta" (Jan Sandestrom, arr. Himes)

The composer wrote this haunting melody for a close friend's daughter, Lotta, then a little girl, who had begun studying trombone. It was presented on her birthday with her father accompanying on piano.

CSB Chorus - "Soon and Very Soon" (Karl Strand, soloist; arr. Jack Schrader)

CSB Chorus - "Then Will the Very Rocks Cry Out" (arr. Mark Hayes)

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - "Let The Beauty of Jesus" (William Broughton)

A brief but beautiful ballad based on a chorus of Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) the sixth General of The Salvation Army:
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity,
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

Meditation - "The Blessing" (William Himes)

This music was written as a processional for the wedding of the composer's son and is based on the groom's favorite hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," by Robert Robinson (1735-90). Hence the music expresses solemnity, tenderness and majesty, building to the seeping grandeur of the bridal entry to coincide with the hymn text, "Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for they courts above"

Offering & Intermission

"Concertante for Cornets and Band (Stephen Bulla)

Written especially for the Salvation Army's Southern Territorial Band, this section features uses as its principal them Hans Leo Hassler's (1564-1612) Passion Chorale.

Sing-Along - "Be Thou My Vision" (arr. William Himes)

Dedicated to Commissioner Andrew S. Miller, leader and friend

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - Trombonology (Tommy Dorsey, arr. Larch)

This big band classic and showpiece for trombone was written by Tommy Dorsey in 1947.

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - Nessun Dorma (Giacomo Puccini, arr. Cheyne)

Nessun dorma ("None shall sleep") is from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera.

Scripture - Commissioner Barry C. Swanson

Overture - "Vitae Aeternum" (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)

A fresh new work which incorporates three Salvation Army songs on the theme of faith and the assurance of eternal life: "God came in Jesus to live among us," "I will praise you, Lord" and "Holy Spirit! Promised presence fall on me."

Encore! - "Lord, Lord, You Sure Been Good to Me" (Herb Bruce, soloist, Eric Alexander)

Take an old spiritual, set it to a blues progression and mix in a contagious Dixieland street beat, and the result is this delightful jazz feature.

Closing Prayer - Commissioner Sue Swanson

CSB Chorus and Alumni - "Choral Benediction" (William Himes)