Converse Wind Ensemble to Celebrate Gustav Holst
The Converse Wind Ensemble, conducted by Gregory Lindahl, will perform its first concert of the season Monday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Twichell Auditorium on the Converse College campus. The concert is a “Holst Celebration” in honor of the 100th anniversary of Gustav Holst’s Suite in E flat for military band, one of the most significant works in early wind band literature.
As a complement to Holst’s original work, the Wind Ensemble will also perform Suite Dreams by Steven Bryant. This piece is a contemporary homage to Holst’s original Suite, employing mixed meter, vocalization, and other later 20th century techniques. Following Suite Dreams, the ensemble will present a perennial favorite by Percy Grainger entitled Irish Tune from County Derry.
Returning to the Holst theme, the Wind Ensemble will perform the composer’s Hammersmith, a moody and exuberant prelude and scherzo. The final work of the evening is called Awayday. Conductor Lindahl says that this is “an energetic, jazz influenced, monster work by contemporary English composer Adam Gorb.” The evening of excellent music is open to all and free of charge.