The annual Sounds of the Seasons concert, featuring the [bclink id=”939″ target=”_blank”] (Bandmaster William Himes) and their special guests, [bclink id=”1072″ target=”_blank”], was held in [bclink id=”1073″ target=”_blank”], Wheaton College, on 26 November 2011. 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 Harlequin (Bruce Broughton). Following a welcome and invocation by Executive Officer Lt.-Col. Richard Vander Weele, the Staff Band continued the program with Psalm of Thanks (Paul Sharman) and Marcia from Serenade, Op. 11 (Wiren, arr. Froden).
Boston Brass were then welcomed to the stage for a set that concluded with a collaboration with the Staff Band on Wayside Festival (DeJonge, trans. William Himes). The members of Boston Brass include Jose Sibaja (trumpet), Jeff Conner (trumpet), Chris Castellanos (horn), Lance LaDuke (trombone/euphonium) and Andrew Hitz (tuba).
The Staff Band Chorus followed the Boston Brass set with Every Time I Feel the Spirit (arr. Schrader) and My Simple Prayer (arr. Lovatt-Cooper, trans. Kenneth Downie). The Staff Band finished the first half of the concert with Scirocco (Peter Graham).
Admission to the concert was free, but an offering was taken to offset expenses. Dr. Rudolf Zuiderveld favored the audience with an organ offertory, Now Thank We All Our God – March Triomphale (Karg-Elert).
The members of Boston Brass joined the Staff Band as soloists for the world premiere of Leidzén Montage, an arrangement by Bandmaster Himes of solos originally composed by Erik Leidzén. Portions of Wondrous Day, Tucker, The Old Rustic Bridge, Song of the Brother,Concertino for Trombone, A Never-Failing Friend and Songs of the Heart were combined into a piece which featured all five members of the Boston Brass.
Prior to the Scripture reading for the evening, presented by Commissioner Paul Seiler, the Staff Band presented Soli Deo Gloria (William Himes).
Boston Brass returned to the stage for their final set of the evening, including Frosty the Snowman and three dances from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.
For their final item of the evening, the Staff Band presented Paean (Dudley Bright) before being joined by members of Boston Brass for a rousing rendition of America’s national march, The Stars and Stripes Forever (John Philip Sousa, arr. William Himes). The evening concluded with the Staff Band Chorus singing Silent Night.
The next concert in this annual series is scheduled for Saturday, 24 November 2012.
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