Converse Wind Ensemble to Perform March 23

The Converse Wind Ensemble, conducted by Converse faculty member Greg Lindahl, will perform Monday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.  in Twichell Auditorium on the Converse College campus. Lindahl has entitled the concert “Colours” and commented, “All of the individual works on the program reference various colors in their titles, and are assembled to exhibit the many different tonal colors available to composers in an ensemble setting.” Sacred music, jazz and blues, minimalist, and large scale are all part of the evening’s repertoire.

The concert will open with a piece by Nancy Galbraith entitled “…with brightness round about it.” One of the most popular early post-minimalist works, the piece is both tonal and melodic but employs minimalist techniques as it develops. The second piece is Eric Whitacre’s own adaptation of his sacred choral piece “Lux Arumque” taken from the poem by Edward Esch, “Light of Gold.” It is a haunting piece that beautifully denotes the mystery and shimmering nature of the light of heaven: “Light, warm and heavy as pure gold and the angels sing softly to the newborn baby.”

The third work is “Colours” by Roger Cichy. This impressionist work uses six movements to represent six different colors. Following this is another piece by Eric Whitacre called “Cloudburst,” and is one of his most popular works; it is also an adaptation from its original form for eight-part choir.  The last work on the program is “Blue Shades” by Frank Ticheli, which will showcase the ensemble under the influence of jazz and blues.

The concert is free of charge and open to the public.