VISION Ecstaic Mansfield University Concert Wind Ensemble DR. ADAM F. BRENNAN, CONDUCTOR PICCOLO Aubrey Perry FLUTE Emily Kirsch Amy Dawe Sarah Hannold Jess Caserta Elaine Cramer OBOE Kristi Kaster Kelsey Fish/Megan Jones ENGLISH HORN Kelsey Fish Eb CLARINET Mike Hobbs Bb CLARINET Julia Federico Ian Miller Gwen Brandt Stewart Houston Eliza Bell Christina Verbyla Jenn Monaghan ALTO CLARINET Brianna Erdmann BASS CLARINET Kim Furente CONTRA BASS CLARINET Casi Reichard BASSOON Max Grube Kayla Furman CONTRA BASSOON Ben Bradley ALTO SAX/ SOPRANO SAX Nick Follett Joel Perkosky Tyler Krouse* TENOR SAX/BASS SAX Ben Carraher BARITONE SAX John Wojciechowski Josh Gulas * TRUMPET Nick McLean Andrew Mextorf CORNET Dan Klinczar Noelle Humphries Bryan Smith Hope Jennings FRENCH HORN Robin Sustak Keri Maldonado Linda Tice Catherine Verbyla Margaret Barber EUPHONIUM Nathan Galloway TROMBONE Louis Setzer Ed Satterfield Brandon Carbonari David Bailey TUBA Gene Syen Anthony Bortone PIANO Jessica Velez STRING BASS Jason O’Donnell PERCUSSION Kevin Kern Nate Palmer Jonathon DeWitt Adam Bancroft James Garcia Andrew Hahn * Maslanka Symphony Only Concert Wind Ensemble Fall 2009 DR. ADAM F. BRENNAN has been director of bands and professor of percussion studies at Mansfield University since 1995. He served for six years as Chair of the Music Department and returned full-time to his duties as Director of Bands in 2008. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in composi- tion from Western Illinois University. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Brennan’s responsibilities include administrating the band program and conducting the Concert Wind Ensemble, the school’s top wind and percussion ensemble. Dr. Brennan also directs the Marching Band, The Spirit and The Pride of Pennsylvania! where he writes all musical arrangements and coordinates the percussion section. In addition to these ensembles, he teaches courses in instru- mental conducting to both undergraduate and graduate students and percussion methods to music majors. Dr. Brennan is also the creator and coordinator of the instrumental conducting program at Mansfield University and is the President of B&P Productions, an internet based music company. From 1989-1995, Dr. Brennan was Associate Director of Bands and Percussion at Western Illinois University. Prior to this, he served as Director of Bands at Kankakee Valley High School in Wheatfield, IN., and was the percussion caption head and writer for the Northmen Drum and Bugle Corps in Green Bay, WIS. He was a percussion consultant for the World Champion Empire Statesmen. An active composer and clinician with over 100 arrangements and compositions and over 150 guest conducting and clinical engage- ments, Dr. Brennan travels extensively making guest appearances at festivals throughout the United States and Canada. He has recorded regularly as a conductor and percussionist and can be heard on Strike Up the Bands, This Could Be the Start of Something Big!, Twilight Offering Music, Fantasy Variations, Music from the Endless Mountains, Tenebrae (Dark Hours), American Portraits, North Central Winds, Concord, Resonance and Sun and Shade. Dr. Brennan is twice the past President of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmaster’s Association. His professional memberships include the College Band Director’s National Association, the Music Educator’s National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educa- tor’s Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternities (honorary member), and the Autism Society of America. He was awarded the prestigious Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity in 2002 in recognition of his efforts towards improving bands in America through education, performance, creativity and research. In 2003, Epsilon Iota, the local chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, presented him with the Bertram Francis Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to MU Bands. He was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Associa- tion in 2007. Dr. Brennan resides in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania with his wife Katie, and three children, Max, Ian and Maggie. bout the Conductor bout Mansfield University and Mansfield University Bands MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY is located in the mountains of north central Penn- sylvania and is one of 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education. About 3300 students attend the rural campus which offers over 70 degree programs including degrees in music performance, music education, music technology, a bachelor of arts degree in music and a master of arts in music degree with tracks in music educa- tion, instrumental conducting, collaborative piano and choral conducting. Founded in 1857, Mansfield was the first state institution to grant a certificate to teach music and has a long tradition of musical excellence. The music department is located in the Will George Butler Music Center which contains Steadman Theatre, two large rehearsal halls, 55 practice rooms and state-of-the-art elec- tronic facilities. North Hall, the beautifully renovated Victorian building on campus, houses one of the finest libraries in the East, including an outstanding music library. The Music Department is staffed by a full-time faculty compliment of 21 and four adjunct artist-teachers. The department enrolls over 240 undergraduate and graduate students and is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The university is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Mansfield University welcomes student inquiries for all degree programs. Visit our web site at www.music.mansfield.edu to find more information or contact the music department at (570) 662-4710. The Mansfield University Concert Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Adam F. Brennan, has been hailed as an outstand- ing performing ensemble, richly sensitive, musically compelling, and deeply passionate in their interpretation of cutting edge wind and percussion repertoire. The ensemble consists of 49 auditioned performers from the MU music department and university. The award winning Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Michael Galloway, is a select group of 20 musicians. These groups record and perform annually on campus and throughout the Eastern region on tours and at conventions and special events. The band program also maintains a large symphonic band, an authentic brass band, a jazz lab band, an outstanding marching band of over 200 members and a basketball band. In addition, numerous chamber ensembles in the wind and percussion area are available to interested and capable musicians. Records•10815BodineRoad•Clarence,NY14031-0406 Ph:716759-2600•www.markcustom.com•9379-MCDP2011 PAGEFIVE Mansfield University Bands are proud to have been a member of the commissioning consortium for the Maslanka Symphony No. 8. The Concert Wind Ensemble is funded in part through student activity fees, Student Government Association. The generous support of students, alumni, friends and the university is greatly appreciated and makes tours and performances like these possible. Records
Transcript
VISIONEcstaic
Mansfield University Concert Wind Ensemble
DR. ADAM F. BRENNAN, CONDUCTOR
PICCOLOAubrey Perry
FLUTEEmily KirschAmy Dawe Sarah HannoldJess CasertaElaine Cramer
Concert Wind Ensemble Fall 2009DR. ADAM F. BRENNAN has been director of bands and professor of percussion studies at Mansfield University since 1995. He served for six years as Chair of the Music Department and returned full-time to his duties as Director of Bands in 2008. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in composi-tion from Western Illinois University. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts
degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Brennan’s responsibilities include administrating the band program and conducting the Concert Wind Ensemble, the school’s top wind and percussion ensemble. Dr. Brennan also directs the Marching Band, The Spirit and The Pride of Pennsylvania! where he writes all musical arrangements and coordinates the percussion section. In addition to these ensembles, he teaches courses in instru-mental conducting to both undergraduate and graduate students and percussion methods to music majors. Dr. Brennan is also the creator and coordinator of the instrumental conducting program at Mansfield University and is the President of B&P Productions, an internet based music company.
From 1989-1995, Dr. Brennan was Associate Director of Bands and Percussion at Western Illinois University. Prior to this, he served as Director of Bands at Kankakee Valley High School in Wheatfield, IN., and was the percussion caption head and writer for the Northmen Drum and Bugle Corps in Green Bay, WIS. He was a percussion consultant for the World Champion Empire Statesmen. An active composer and clinician with over 100 arrangements and
compositions and over 150 guest conducting and clinical engage-ments, Dr. Brennan travels extensively making guest appearances at festivals throughout the United States and Canada. He has recorded regularly as a conductor and percussionist and can be heard on Strike Up the Bands, This Could Be the Start of Something Big!, Twilight Offering Music, Fantasy Variations, Music from the Endless Mountains, Tenebrae (Dark Hours), American Portraits, North Central Winds, Concord, Resonance and Sun and Shade.
Dr. Brennan is twice the past President of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmaster’s Association. His professional memberships include the College Band Director’s National Association, the Music Educator’s National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educa-tor’s Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternities (honorary member), and the Autism Society of America. He was awarded the prestigious Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity in 2002 in recognition of his efforts towards improving bands in America through education, performance, creativity and research. In 2003, Epsilon Iota, the local chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, presented him with the Bertram Francis Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to MU Bands. He was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Associa-tion in 2007. Dr. Brennan resides in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania with his wife Katie, and three children, Max, Ian and Maggie.
bout the Conductor
bout Mansfield University and Mansfield University Bands
MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY is located in the mountains of north central Penn-sylvania and is one of 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education. About 3300 students attend the rural campus which offers over 70 degree programs including degrees in music performance, music education, music technology, a bachelor of arts degree in music and a master of arts in music degree with tracks in music educa-tion, instrumental conducting, collaborative piano and choral conducting. Founded in 1857, Mansfield was the first state institution to grant a certificate to teach music and has a long tradition of musical excellence. The music department is located in the Will George Butler Music Center which contains Steadman Theatre, two large rehearsal halls, 55 practice rooms and state-of-the-art elec-tronic facilities. North Hall, the beautifully
renovated Victorian building on campus, houses one of the finest libraries in the East, including an outstanding music library.
The Music Department is staffed by a full-time faculty compliment of 21 and four adjunct artist-teachers. The department enrolls over 240 undergraduate and graduate students and is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The university is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Mansfield University welcomes student inquiries for all degree programs. Visit our web site at www.music.mansfield.edu to find more information or contact the music department at (570) 662-4710.
The Mansfield University Concert Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Adam F. Brennan, has been hailed as an outstand-ing performing ensemble, richly sensitive, musically compelling, and deeply passionate in their interpretation of cutting edge wind and percussion repertoire. The ensemble consists of 49 auditioned performers from the MU music department and university. The award winning Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Michael Galloway, is a select group of 20 musicians. These groups record and perform annually on campus and throughout the Eastern region on tours and at conventions and special events. The band program also maintains a large symphonic band, an authentic brass band, a jazz lab band, an outstanding marching band of over 200 members and a basketball band. In addition, numerous chamber ensembles in the wind and percussion area are available to interested and capable musicians. Records•10815BodineRoad•Clarence,NY14031-0406
Mansfield University Bands are proud to have been a member of the commissioning consortium for the Maslanka Symphony No. 8.
The Concert Wind Ensemble is funded in part through student activity fees, Student Government Association. The generous support of students, alumni, friends and the
university is greatly appreciated and makes tours and performances like these possible. Records
David Maslanka was born in Massachusetts in 1943. He earned degrees in music composition from the Oberlin College Conservatory and Michigan State University, where he studied with composer H. Owen Reed. Maslanka served as a member of the music faculty at SUNY Geneseo, New York University, and Kingsborough Community College in New York City before choosing in 1990 to compose exclusively. In addition to numerous commissions, Maslanka has received grants and fellowships from ASCAP, the New York Arts Council, and the National Endowment of the Arts. Maslanka has written for wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, solo marimba, orchestra, chorus, and numerous chamber ensembles. His music often uses Christian symbols, but attempts to move through them to a depth of humanness not defined by a religious label, and seeks to engage “all elements of the conscious and unconscious minds.”
SYMPHONY NO. 8 was commissioned by a consor-tium of college and university bands from around the country, including Mansfield University. Although it is constructed with three distinct movements, its musical layout suggests a single large-scale panoramic vista. In his preface to the score, Maslanka writes: “I began the composition process for this symphony with meditation, and was shown scenes of widespread devastation. But this music is not about the surface of our world problems. It is a response to a much deeper vital creative flow which is forcefully at work, and which will carry us through our age of crisis. This music is a celebration of life. It is about new life, continuity from the past to the future, great hope,
great faith, joy, ecstatic vision, and fierce determina-tion. The old is continually present in the new. The first movement touches the Gloria from my Mass: Glory to God in the highest, whatever that may mean to you: the poet of the universe made manifest to us and through us. The second movement is a large fantasia on the old Lutheran chorale melody Jesu meine Freude (Jesus my Joy). The life of Christ is one powerful image of the high creative: being willing to be broken to receive the new; giving oneself up entirely so that a new idea can be born. The old form of the organ chorale prelude underlies this movement — new language out of the old. The third movement is a music of praise and gratitude for all that is. It can be traced to the very end of the favorite old hymn tune All Creatures of Our God and King — the part with the joyous descending major scale where all the bells ring out. I recently used this tune for a set of variations in a piece called Unending Stream of Life, a name which could also be a fitting subtitle for this new symphony.”
F•fAustralian composer Percy Aldridge Grainger was born in 1884 and died in 1961 in White Plains, New York. As a child, Grainger studied piano with his mother and was rarely allowed to play with other children. As a teenager, he studied piano in Germany and toured Europe giving concerts. Grainger immi-grated to the United States in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I. In 1917, when the U.S. entered the war, he enlisted as an army bandsman, learning to play and appreciate most wind and percussion instruments,
especially the saxophone. As a composer, Grainger was ahead of his time — he used mixed meters and irregular rhythms before Stravinsky did, and was a pioneer in the collection of folk music. He is also known for shunning the use of Italian terms in music scores, preferring the use of “blue-eyed English” with phrases such as “slow up” and “louden lots.” Grainger composed over four hundred titles for vocal solo, chorus, orchestra, band, piano, and various chamber ensembles. Notorious for setting and resetting his works, a list of Grainger’s compositions in all versions would number over one thousand.
Grainger composed MOLLY ON THE SHORE for string quartet (“fiddle foursome”) in 1907 as a gift for his mother and was arranged for band by the composer in 1920. Based on two reel tunes from Cork — “Temple Hill” and “Molly on the Shore” — the piece is known for its subtle usage of the original themes, rhythmic intensity, and “finger-breaking” woodwind parts. At 195 bars long, it is an unusu-ally lengthy setting for Grainger. As with many of Grainger’s band pieces, it is “lovingly and reverently” dedicated to his mentor, composer Edvard Grieg.
F•fBorn in Massachusetts to Russian immigrant parents, Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) became the subject of public accolade at the age of 25 substitute-conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1969, following an eleven-year tenure as principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein resigned to devote more time to composing and guest conducting. Bernstein composed for orchestra, ballet,
theatre, film, solo voice, piano, choir, and chamber ensembles. He also arranged for band under the pseudonym Lenny Amber. Noted as a composer, pianist, author, lecturer, teacher, television personality, and cultural icon, arrangements of his overtures and Broadway shows highlights have become standards of the band repertoire.
CANDIDE is Bernstein’s third Broadway musical. Unfortunately, the musical’s 1956 Boston debut did not bring critical acclaim. As a result, the musical’s short run on Broadway was a commercial failure. The musical’s story concerns Candide, a young man whose tutor, Dr. Pangloss, has convinced him that everything is for the best “in the best of all possible worlds.” During journeys around the world, Candide learns that real life holds more crime and suffer-ing than he was led to believe. Bernstein premiered the musical’s popular Overture with the New York Philharmonic in 1957.
F•fAmerican composer Samuel Hazo was born in 1966. After earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Duquesne University, he began teaching in the public schools and has taught music at every educational level from elementary through college. In 2003, Hazo became the first composer to win both composition contests sponsored by the National Band Association. Hazo composes for professional, university, and public school wind bands in addition to scoring original works for television, radio, and the stage. His music for the educational realm is featured in the series “Teaching Music Through Performance
in Band.” Hazo often serves as a guest conductor and clinician and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife and children.
RIDE was written in 2003 for composer and conductor Jack Stamp in a gesture of appreciation and friendship. About this piece, Hazo writes: “In late April of 2002, Jack had invited me to take part in a composer’s forum he had organized for his students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Following the first day of the forum, Jack invited all of the compos-ers to his house, where his wife Lori had prepared an incredible gourmet dinner. Since I didn’t know how to get to Jack’s house from the university, he told me to follow him. So he and his passenger began the fifteen minute drive with me behind them. The combination of such an invigorating day, as well as my trying to follow Jack at the top speed a country road can be driven, is what wrote this piece in my head in the time it took to get from the IUP campus to the Stamp residence. Ride was written and titled for that exact moment in my life when Jack Stamp’s generosity and lead foot were as equal in their inspiration as the beautiful Indiana, PA countryside blurring past my car window.”
F•fAlthough born in Massachusetts in 1961, composer Julie Giroux grew up in the South. As a child, she played horn in her school bands and played piano for the school choir. She composed her first piece at age eight, her first band piece at age thirteen, and published her first work, Mystery on Mena Mountain for Concert Band, in 1981 as a college student at Louisiana State University. Since then, Giroux has
been the music director and orchestrator for the Academy Awards, written music for myriad films and television shows, and scored music for Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Liza Mennelli, and many others. In 1992, Giroux won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction. She was the first woman and the youngest person to receive an award in that category. Giroux has written for symphony orchestra, soloists, and chamber ensembles, but is primarily a wind band composer. She writes, “I was a band kid and it made me who I am today. Composing for concert bands is a great joy for me, as well as an honor.”
MOVIN’ ON DOWN THE LINE was composed in celebration of conductor Johnnie B. Vinson’s retirement from Auburn University. In preface to the score, Giroux writes: “Whenever I am approached with composing works of this nature, I always think of trains and the parallel they have to the human life’s journey. Strangely, I have always lived within ear reach of train tracks. During the day, it reminds me that life just keeps on moving. At night, sometimes it is a lonely sound, and if I am up composing (which is most nights), it makes me smile because I know there is somebody else awake and working too. Always, it makes me wonder: Where has that train been? Where is it now and where is it going? Johnnie has been many places, and for 27 years, he has been at Auburn University. Soon, his life ‘tracks’ will take him elsewhere. It is a time of sadness and a time of rejoicing. This work reflects on the journeys of a train and the journeys of a man. Full of memories, the love of life and the drive to keep going. Just like that train, just like Johnnie, this piece moves on down the line.”
