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Chamber wind ensembles perform medley of music


With the weather showing signs of winter approaching, the Chamber Wind Ensembles perform a variety of selections with a few hints of winter to get the audience into a merry mood.

The Chamber Wind Ensemble concert opened the evening with the Flute Choir performing a varity of selections.

One of their pieces, Sleigh Ride by Frederick Dilius, arrangement by Nancy Nourse, presented a sense of winter with bells jingling along to the serene tones of the flute.

“It was our hardest piece,” said Linda Farmer, a sophomore Music major from Dresden. “I think it went over very well. It captures the winter mood and it has lots of solos that people can shine on.”

The Clarinet Choir performed next with Rondo, from Serenade, No. 10, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arrangement by Boris Pillin.

The piece presents a very upbeat melody combined with the bass sounds of the bass clarinet that creates a very pleasant-sounding performance.

The Clarinet Quartet performed next with Prelude and Scherzo, by David Bennett. The piece was very serene and somber. “I liked Scherzo because it has lively chords,” said Latasha Thomas, a freshman Music Education major from Humboldt. “The chords are very passionate and moving.”

Performing Grave, by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, arrangement by Ronald C. Dishinger, the Saxophone Quartet gave a great performance with high tones mixed with the low tones of the bass saxophone played by a guest to the quartet, Michael Walsh, instructor of Music and also director of the Clarinet Ensemble and Saxophone Ensemble.

“Grave had a very eerie, death-like quality to it,” said Justin Condron, a sophomore Music Education major from Milan. “It has a dark tone to it, which fits the name.”

Silent Night, by Franz Gruber, arrangement by Ann Cameron Pearce, which was performed by the Flute Choir, was an amazing piece in the concert.

Silent Night was an excellent choice for this instrument. The flutists performed the very serene and sweet tones of the song. Indian Summer, by Victor Herbert, arrangement by Bill Holcombe, was performed next by the Saxophone Quartet.

The performance provided an Indian-type atmosphere with the tones and melody of the song.

“I liked the jazzy tones of Indian Summer,” said Megan Beam, a sophomore Music Education major from Union City. “It’s got a lot of spunk and it’s fun to listen to,” added Emily Bethart, a sophomore Chemistry major from Nashville.

The final performance of the evening came from the Flute Choir, who also began the evening. Their last two selections were I Wonder as I Wander, by John Jacob Niles, arrangement by Ann Cameron Pearce and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, which is a traditional English piece, arrangement by Ann Cameron Pearce.

I Wonder as I Wander began with a beautiful solo by Rachel Brann. The other flutists joined in with a nice melody that had a calm and gentle sound.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas, which helps hint at the winter season approaching, ended the program.

The selection was performed very well and beautifully. It was a great selection to end the concert.

As Dr. Elaine Harriss, an associate professor of Music and director of the Flute Choir, said, “Wal-mart isn’t the only one with Christmas in their hearts.”