Sounds of the Seasons 2011

The annual Sounds of the Seasons concert featuring the Chicago Staff Band and our special guests Boston Brass (http://www.bostonbrass.com) was held in Edman Chapel on the campus of Wheaton College last evening. A near capacity crowd gathered in spite of rainy weather to hear the combined efforts of the two ensembles.

Bandmaster Himes began the program with Bruce Broughton's "Harlequin". Following a welcome and invocation by Executive Officer Lt. Colonel Richard Vander Weele the Chicago Staff Band continued the program with:

• "Psalm of Thanks" (Sharman)
• "Marcia" from Serenade, Op. 11 (Wiren/arr. Froden)

Boston Brass were then welcomed to the stage for a package that concluded with a CSB/Boston Brass collaboration of "Wayside Festival" (DeJonge/trs. Himes). While more information is available on the Boston Brass web site, their members include Jose Sibaja (trumpet), Jeff Conner (trumpet), Chris Castellanos (horn), Lance LaDuke (trombone/euphonium) and Andrew Hitz (tuba).

The CSB Chorus followed the Boston Brass package with:

• "Every Time I Feel The Spirit" (arr. Schrader)
• "My Simple Prayer" (arr. Lovatt-Cooper/trs. Downie)

The CSB finished the first half of the concert with "Sirocco" (Graham).

Admission to the concert was free but an offering was taken to offset expenses. Dr. Rudolf Zuiderveld favored those gathered with an organ offertory "Now Thank We All Our God - March Triomphale" (Karg-Elert).

Following an intermission the CSB returned to the stage presenting"

• "Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare" (Strauss/arr. Himes)
• "Wade In The Water" (Ballantine)

The members of Boston Brass joined the CSB as soloists in the world premier of a William Himes arrangement of solos originally written by Erik Leidzen. Portions of "Wondrous Day", "Tucker", "The Old Rustic Bridge", "Song of the Brother", "Concertino for Trombone", "A Never Failing Friend" and "Songs in the Heart" were combined into an arrangement titled "Leidzen Montage" that featured all five members of Boston Brass as soloists.

Prior to the scripture reading for the evening presented by Commissioner Paul Seiler the band presented "Soli Deo Gloria" (Himes).

Boston Brass returned to the stage for their final package of the evening that included "Frosty the Snowman" and three dances from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite".

For their final solo item of the evening, the CSB presented "Paean" (Bright) before being joined by members of Boston Brass for a rousing rendition of America's national march, "The Stars And Stripes Forever" (Sousa/arr. Himes).

The evening concluded with the CSB Chorus singing "Silent Night".

The evening was a fitting conclusion to our season of Thanksgiving and a beginning to Advent 2011.

If you missed this concert, you won't want to miss next year's Sounds of the Seasons concert scheduled for Saturday, November 24, 2012. Put it on your calendar now! Hope to see you there.

Quincy, IL - November 12-13, 2011

I've been remiss and not provided details regarding our visit to Quincy, IL that is coming up this weekend. We will indeed be returning to Quincy where the Salvation Army has recently opened a new Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

Our schedule for the weekend includes:

Saturday, November 12, 2011 - Concert at 7:00 pm
Sunday, November 13, 2011 - Worship Service at 10:00 am

The Saturday evening concert will feature euphonium soloist, Master Gunnery Sergeant Phillip Franke. Master Gunnery Sergeant Fanke is the principal euphonium in "The President's Own" United States Marine Band and a graduate of Quincy, IL High School. The concert on Saturday evening will require purchase of a ticket.

For ticket information please contact the Salvation Army at 217.231.5626 or visit the Kroc Center located at 405 Vermont Street in Quincy.