CONTENT COURTESY LYALL MCDERMOTT/DVCB
Autumnal colours, sunrises a-plenty, nature in miniature and the most magnificent pictures of Paris will be on show when the Derwent Valley Concert Band presents its next concert at the Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre. The program features works by five (living) composers, all written as personal responses to some of the great wonders of our world.
What’s on the program?
- Lauds, in the words of its composer Ron Nelson, “is an exuberant, colourful work intended to express feelings of praise and glorification”. Lauds is one of the seven canonical hours usually celebrated at sunrise, giving praise to God for the wonders of His creation.
- Sunrise at Angel’s Gate by Philip Sparke: Angel’s Gate is one of the named rock formations on the northern side of the Grand Canyon. The composer says that he “tried to depict the sights and sounds of dawn there, birdsong in the early morning sky and the gradual revelation of the canyon itself as the sun reaches into its rocky depths”. In my opinion, this is Sparke’s most beautiful work – truly inspired!
- Belgian composer Bert Appermont grew up fascinated by the nature documentaries of Sir David Attenborough. Microptopia is Appermont’s tribute to Attenborough, his documentaries and to those small-scale animals that so often provided the most interesting subject material: Coleoptera (beetles and weevils); Papilionoidea (butterflies); Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps and sawflies).
- In October, Eric Whitacre is writing about his favourite time of year with its “crisp, autumnal air; the leaves turning and the subtle change in light”. Whitacre is perhaps better know as a vocal composer who often transcribes his choral work for wind band, but this lush and beautiful work was conceived for winds and only later transcribed for choir! It was premiered in 2000.
- Paris Sketches is a tribute by British composer Martin Ellerby to a city he loves “and to other composers who lived, worked or simply passed through. Running like a unifying thread through the whole piece is the idea of bells – a prominent feature of Paris life”. Composed in 1994, this wonderful four-movement work has become a standard in the wind band repertoire.
Concert details:
Breathtaking
Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre, 5 November, 2.30pm
Entry is by donation. Refreshments will be available but please note, the program will be performed without an interval.
Images supplied.
