In the spirit of the Halloween season, on Sunday, Nov. 2, the Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble will present a free band concert with a theme of “Mysterious Musical Moments.” The program, conducted by Dr. Keith Wharton, will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Church, Cross and High streets in downtown Chestertown.
“Dance of the Spirits,” as the Native American Cree tribe refers to the aurora borealis, or northern lights, will open the program. Using a variety of unusual sounds and effects, quickly changing textures and surprises, composer Michael Sweeney captures this phenomenon’s beauty and unpredictable nature in this musical depiction.
In “Hocus Pocus,” James Syler intertwines a 6/8-time tarantella and a minor-key march in a tale of autumnal mischief and spooky fun. After extensive interchange and development of several themes, they are brought back simultaneously and build to a clever ending.
“The Valley of Darkness,” by Barry Kopetz, depicts the story of an expedition into an uncharted, strange, and eerie land. As imaginary scenes are portrayed, there is a sense of dread, foreboding, and suspense. As the explorers near their journey’s end, their speed and urgency to escape quickens at the piece’s powerful conclusion.
In a change of pace, the band will play highlights from the musical “Wicked,” the hottest show on Broadway in 2004, and still playing there and elsewhere. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. “Wicked” tells how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
Next, a trombone quartet will play “Inveni David,” a religious offertory motet written by Anton Bruckner in 1868 for a four-part men’s choir and four trombones.
“House of Horrors” is a medley of familiar themes from classical works that have come to be considered spooky. Interspersed with ghoulish touches, the musical sources include Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” Moussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” Chopin’s “Funeral March,” and Gounod’s “Funeral March of a Marionette.”
In “The Heart of Madness” three of Edgar Allan Poe’s literary works (“The Bells,” “The Raven,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”) are depicted musically. Poe (1809-1849) was best known for his Gothic writing of imaginative tales and images of horror and the macabre.
“Who’s That Masked Man?” features the intense but entertaining theme music related to favorite film and TV characters who always wear masks: the Lone Ranger, Spider Man, the Phantom of the Opera, the Incredibles, and Zorro.
The always popular “Sabre Dance,” from Khachaturian’s Gayane Ballet, will conclude the program. The music accompanies a fast and furious Armenian dance, performed by men whirling ferocious-looking sabres. Over a simple repeated rhythmic pattern a dance melody drops by chromatic degrees, suggesting the flashing of the sabres and lending a mysterious and somewhat threatening air.
Dr. Wharton has been the music director of this all-ages community concert band since its founding in 2001. The band always welcomes new members, without audition or fee. For more information, call 410-778-2829. The band is partially supported by a grant from the Kent County Arts Council. The band’s next performance will be a holiday concert on December 14.
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