Submittted by BOWLING GREEN AREA COMMUNITY BANDS
Warm sounds and brightly shining talent highlight the next Bowling Green Area Community Bands’ concert. Entitled In The Bleak Midwinter, also the title of a 19th century carol known for its themes of hope and strive, the local ensembles are offering popular song, traditional concert marches and symphonic masterworks that embody those ideas.
The Sunday, Feb. 26 concert begins at 4 p.m. in the Bowling Green Area Schools’ Performing Arts Center. Conductors for this performance are Thomas, R. Headley and William E. Lake.
Opening the performance with the “Star Spangled Banner”, the Concert Band performs two challenging and diverse pieces, including a new transcription for the modern concert band. The Lt. Kije’ Suite, one of the most performed pieces by Russian composer Serge Prokofiev, was the orchestral score of a satirical film from the early days of the Soviet Union. Prokofiev’s life spanned much political strife, including the fall of the Russian Czar, both World Wars and the rise of the Communist party. Despite the political tensions, the Lt. Kije’ story contains elements of farce, humor and hope. The Concert Band will perform the five-movement suite in its entirety, in a new arrangement by Jose’ Schuyns.
Concert Band Assistant Director Catherine Lewis is featured as the bassoon soloist on the Concertino for Bassoon by Julius Fucik. Fucik, a Czeck composer, was himself a bassoonist and band conductor. Today he is best known for two marches, “The Florentiner” and “Entry of the Gladiators”. “Gladiators”, also known as “Thunder and Blazes” is the upbeat tune often used in circuses to announce the arrival of the clowns. The Concertino for Bassoon is a similarly joyful piece, while showcasing the virtuosity of the soloist.
Lewis, retired Director of Bands for Fremont City Schools, has performed previously as a soloist with the North Coast Concert Band, the Hixon Dance Company and various chamber ensembles. Shemaint ains an active role in music education, serving as a school consultant around Ohio. During the past year, she appeared at 25 different schools, guest conducting, leading clinics and teaching small group lessons. Also an award-winning quilter, Catherine participates in art shows throughout the region. She created and conducted the March 2016 BGACB art-themed concert, Music Paints a Picture.
Continuing the hopeful, up-beat theme the BG BiG Band will perform “Unit 7”, “I Remember Clifford” and “Manteca”. All three tunes are associated with artists who sported creative nicknames – John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie, Julian Edwin “Cannonball” Adderley and Clifford “Brownie” Brown. Bowling Green musician Brian Bushong is the trumpet soloist on “I Remember Clifford”.
The ever-popular, ever-hopeful Josh Groban tune, “ You Raise Me Up” will open the second set of the Concert Band. The vocal soloist is Bowling Green resident Andrew Kalmar. Completing the Concert Band portion are marches including “The Huntress March”, “Americans We” and “Sempre Fidelis.” Translated as “Always Faithful,” the latter is regarded as the official march of the United States Marine Corps.
Located adjacent to Bowling Green High School at 530 West Poe Road, Bowling Green, the PAC offers plenty of parking and is fully accessible for its patrons. The concert is free of charge, with donations greatly appreciated. The BGACB is a non-profit, 501(c)3, entirely volunteer organization.
