Fanfares and Declarations! (October 10th)
The Mercer Middle-Senior High School Bands will present their fall concert on Wednesday, October 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Mercer High School Auditorium. This one hour concert will feature each of the academic concert bands performing a variety of music from the band world. The Middle School Concert Band will perform a march by Elliot Del Borgo entitled “Emblem of Victory”, “Chester” by William Billings, “A Childhood Hymn” by David Holsinger, and “Night Flight of the Gargoyles” by Timothy Loest. The High School Concert Band will present “Declaration Overture” by the late Claude T. Smith and “Arioso” by Darren Jenkins (Both songs are available from Wingert-Jones Publications. The High School Wind Ensemble will present three pieces including the Chaconne from “First Suite for Military Band in E-flat”, “At Morning’s First Light” by David Gillingham, and “Mother Earth (A Fanfare)” by David Maslanka. The combined Senior High Groups will present “Noble Men” by Henry Fillmore.
It has been a very rewarding year with the ensembles thus far. I am very proud of the progress and potential in the middle school ensemble. It is very rewarding to see the progress that many of the concert band members have made to develop into good musicians. Many of them are finding they can no longer depend on upperclassmen any longer, and must lead their section. Scary for them at times, but so important over the long haul for the programs development. The Wind Ensemble has really taken hold of all three pieces. The piece by Maslanka is the challenge on the program. It is a delight harmonically (full of tension and relaxation), but it’s true appeal (to the players) lies in the power and intensity that so many of the lines carry.
Personally, I do not have anything on the program for this concert. I am involved in a couple of projects right now that will hopefully be ready for our Holiday concert on November 28th. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you can join us on October 10th at 7:00 p.m. at Mercer High School.
