NIC wind symphony to perform
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 3 years, 10 months AGO
North Idaho College Director of Bands Bryan Hannaford conducts the NIC wind symphony during "Sounds of Christmas," their latest performs in December. The symphony will perform again on March 23. Photo courtesy of North Idaho College
The North Idaho College Wind Symphony is performing its first concert of the semester.
“Echoes of Americana” starts at 7:30 p.m. March 23 in the NIC Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center on the college’s main campus in Coeur d’Alene.
The concert is free and open to the public.
Americana can be described as artifacts related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the U.S. The compositions in this concert, all composed by Americans, reflect the state of America at various times in our history.
The concert will begin with “Chimes of Liberty,” a military march by Edwin Franko Goldman. This march, written prior to 1922, is one of the most performed American marches. It features the chimes and piccolo.
The symphony will also perform Frank Ticheli’s modern setting of the 19th century American Folk Song “Shenandoah,” which originated from French travelers journeying down the Missouri River. Later in the program, concertgoers will hear “Chorale and Shaker Dance” composed by John Zdechlik. The 1972 composition is based on the 1848 Shaker Song “Simple Gifts.”
“You won’t want to miss this standard of the concert band repertoire,” said Bryan Hannaford, NIC Wind Symphony conductor.
Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday” will feature community members Phil Arhaus, Tom Durbin, and Tom Tucker on trumpets.
“You’ll be dazzled by musical pyrotechnics in ‘Bugler’s Holiday,’” said Hannaford.
The symphony will also present a selection composed by recently retired NIC Professor Gerard Mathes.
“Requiem for a Soldier” is written in memory of Mathes’ uncle, Ernest Sharpe, who received the Purple Heart and served in important and hard-fought campaigns at the end of World War II. Sharpe witnessed the devastation after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “Requiem for a Soldier” represents Sharpe going to war, surviving death and fire, and hearing a Japanese lullaby that reminds him of home and his mother.
“This piece describes what my uncle went through as a young man in the service of his country and strives to evoke his experience of war and the belief that led a nation to fight tyranny,” Mathes said.
The last piece on the program, “Aces: For Those Who Command the Skies” by Robert W. Smith, was written for the U.S. Air Force Academy Band. It begins with a brilliant fanfare while taking the listener on a journey to explore the mystery, intensity, and beauty of the heavens and those who dream to soar the skies.
“There are a number of featured soloists on this piece of music from flute, oboe, and clarinet, but what’s not so typical is the use of piano which will really add to the mystery and wonder of this composition,” Hannaford said.
Hannaford is in his fifth year as Director of Bands and Associate Professor at North Idaho College. In addition to directing the NIC Wind Symphony, he also directs the NIC Jazz Ensemble, Cardinal Pep Band, and Cardinal Chamber Orchestra.