Concert 2 2025: By Invitation

Invited artists:

• Blackburn High School Symphonic Band conducted by Jason Ziino
• Balwyn High School Symphonic Band conducted by David Howes

BLACKBURN HIGH SCHOOL WIND BAND

Brazilian Folk Dance Suite arr. William E. Rhodes

It consists of three folk songs freely adapted for concert band by the American composer Alfred Reed and set in dance forms native to Brazil – the bossa nova, the beguine, and the quickstep.

Brian Hogg “In Stillness”

Their second work is by Australian composer and Blackburn High School music staff member Brian Hogg. Brian was born in Yorkshire England and emigrated with his family to Australia in 1964. The developed his musical interest in school music and became a performer in the Salvation Army Band in which he continues to play. He taught music in several schools including the Burwood Heights High and Yarra Valley Grammar in Ringwood, and recently Blackburn High School. Brian is currently employed by the Salvation Army as a Music Consultant responsible for new publications, conducting and presenting choral repertoire. Brian strives to continually extend the musicianship of the ensembles with which he works.

In the score, there is quote that I would like to read to you.
“In stillness we begin to see our true reflection”. Ken Duncan

“Taking time to intentionally find stillness needs to be a conscious act; once found, stillness reveals much and can prove to be an exhilarating, uplifting experience. The music tracks this journey from stillness to realisation, from calm to an intense, almost exuberant, welcoming awareness of life. With an opening motif coloured by woodwind tone, this work builds to a dramatic climax, returning to a sense of stillness.” by the composer 

Alfred Reed “March” from First Suite For Band

Alfred Reed was an American composer, arranger, conductor and educator. Born into a family of Austrian descent, he served the 529th Army Air Force Band as a trumpeter. He had different jobs as staff composer and arranger of broadcasting corporations, served on faculty at the University of Miami, editor at Hansen Publishing, and composed over 250 published works for all genres. Alfred Reed was one of the nation’s most prolific and frequently performed composers.

Tonight we will hear his March, and later in the concert, another of his compositions, El Camino Real.

The March is the first of four movements from the First Suite for Band by American Alfred Reed. Composed in 1975, this March is a tense dissonant-tinged section that features a hard-driving treatment of a dramatic marching theme that keeps its momentum to the very end. 

BALWYN HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONIC BAND

Rossano Galante “The Falls”

The composer Rossano Gallanto is from the United States of America. Rossano was a music major at State University of New York Buffalo in trumpet where he became interested in composition and orchestrator for studio films. He has served as orchestrator for over seventy-five studio films including Rambo: first blood, and Charlie’s Angels.  

This work is titled “The Falls”. 

Highlighting a waterfall as it cascades over rocky terrain, sparkling wind and brass fanfares depict the water as it rushes forward before exploding over the edge. Sweeping melodic lines transport us into the mysterious and rapturous wilderness, evoking one of nature’s must glorious spectacles.

Sammy Nestico “Persuasion”

Samuel Louis “Sammy” Nestico was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attending high school there and playing trombone in the school band. He received a degree in music education from Duquesne University in 1946. For 15 years, he was a staff arranger for the USAF Band in Washington, D. C. and for five years, the US Marine Band. He made tours with the Woody Herman and Tommy Dorsey bands and performed with the Boston Pops. His arrangements and compositions have been a part of over 60 television programs, including M*A*S*H and Love Boat.

Beginning in a moderato tempo, the sweet sound of the solo alto saxophone gets the listener interested in its after- statements of themes played by the ensemble. A short phrase in cut-time offers an interesting twist before returning to the tempo and theme of the start. It is easy to understand the persuasion of the piece after its climax of a solo cadenza and mellow ending.

PROGRAM NOTES FOR WORKS PERFORMED BY THE GRAINGER WIND SYMPHONY

Alfred Reed “El Camino Real: a latin fantasy”

The guest conductor of this work is David Howes. David a music educator, plays Horn in the wind symphony and is a past chairperson of The GWS.

El Camino Real (literally “The Royal Road” or “The King’s Highway”) was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, the 581st Air Force Band (AFRES) and its commander, Lt. Col. Ray E. Toler. Composed during the latter half of 1984 and completed in early ’85, it bears the subtitle “A Latin Fantasy.”

The music is based on a series of chord progressions common to countless generations of Spanish flamenco (and other) guitarists, whose fiery style and brilliant playing have captivated millions of music lovers throughout the world. These progressions and the resulting key relationships have become practically synonymous with what we feel to be the true Spanish idiom. Together with the folk melodies they have underscored, in part derived by a procedure known to musicians as the “melodizing of harmony,” they have created a vast body of what most people would consider authentic Spanish music.

The first section of the music is based upon the dance form known as the Jota, while the second, contrasting section is derived from the Fandango, but here altered considerably in both time and tempo from its usual form. Overall, the music follows a tradition three-part pattern: fast-slow-fast.

The first public performance of El Camino Real took place on April 15th, 1985, in Sarasota, Florida, with the 581st Air Force Band under the direction of Lt. Col. Ray E. Toler.

• Program Note by composer

Cathy Likhuta “Me Disagrees”

The conductor of this work is Shane Walterfang, the GWS Associate Conductor. For more information about Shane click here.

“Why Me Disagrees? My intention was to write a piece that would depict an argument that is not overly aggressive. Instead, it is to be playfully competitive, even somewhat humorous at times. “I disagree” is a strong statement, which wouldn’t reflect the lighthearted spirit of the original idea. So I decided to make it sound like something a naughty child might say to defy authority: ‘Me disagrees! End of story.’”

– Program Note by composer

For more information about “Me Disagrees” click here.

Jodie Blackshaw “Symphony No.1 Leunig’s Prayer Book”

This is a major work by Australian composer Jodie Blackshaw. She has provided details program notes and notes for the conductor on her website. It is highly recommended that it is read before arriving at the concert. There is also a recording of the work. For a link to the webpage, click here.

“Jodie Blackshaw’s Symphony No. 1 (2019) carries the subtitle Leunig’s Prayer Book, a genuflection towards those much-loved cartoons and verses of Michael Leunig, in this case four poem-prayers reflecting on the arrival of the four seasons. In terms of scope and aspiration, Blackshaw’s 25 minute symphony is a major work, inflating Leunig’s endearing line-drawings and affecting poetry to almost Mahlerian proportions.” — Vincent Plush, Limelight Magazine March 2019

The four movements are titled as follows. Each is accompanied by a Leunig poem. At strategic places in the score, the composer has provided a quote of a particular passage of the poem. It greatly assists players to make a connection with the emotion and thoughts to how they play their part. We hope you can feel the connection at our live performance.

Tonight we are performing the 2nd and 4th movements only.

1. Autumn: Bitter and Sweet
2. Spring: The Creation of Faith

COMBINED BANDS

John Williams: Symphonic Marches by John Williams, arr. John Higgins and orchestrated by John Lavender

“The Olympic Games continue to facilitate and inspire each one of us – – with every presentation of the Game, we experience that complete dedication and unshakeable will to persevere that typifies the goal of each competitor. The human spirit soars, and we strive for the best within us.

“These are the qualities which we seek to capture, describe and preserve through music, and it has been my great honour to contribute “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” to the 1984 Los Angles Olympic Games. I dedicate it lovingly to all participating athletes, from whom, we derive so much strength and inspiration.” John Williams 1984

We hope you enjoy our concerts. Each program of the Grainger Wind Symphony is quite different and most engaging. Please come to our future concerts. We would enjoy your support for live music making.