Symphonic Band to Perform Monday Feb. 24

by Richard Veit

Baylor University's Symphonic Band will present the first of its two spring concerts at
8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, in Jones Concert Hall. Symphonic Band, an ensemble of 52 musicians, is conducted by Jerry Luckhardt, associate director of bands.
The concert will open with "Fanfare and Flourishes for a Festive Occasion" by James Curnow. This exciting curtainraiser is based on themes from the "Te Deum" by early baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier.
Gustav Holst's "Second Suite" dates from 1911 and employs English folk songs and folk dance tunes throughout. Its fourth and final movement incorporates the familiar melody of "Greensleeves."
"Icarus and Daedalus: The Fantasy of Flight" was written by Keith Gates in 1992, on a commission from the Air Force Band of Flight. It recounts the mythological story of Daedalus, the world's first aviator, and his ill-fated son, Icarus. Director of Bands Michael Haithcock will conduct this work.
The "Suite Provençale" of Van der Roost is a four-movement piece for wind band which is based on several old folk songs from the Provence region of France.
François Borne's "Fantaisie Brillante sur Carmen" is scored for wind band with solo flute. It is based on many of the most familiar themes from Georges Bizet's opera, Carmen. The flute soloist will be Julie Hobbs, a graduate student from Des Moines, Iowa.
The concluding piece on the concert will be the "Gum-suckers March" by Australian composer Percy Grainger. The unusual title refers to the nickname for Australians born in Victoria, the home state of the composer.
The concert by the Baylor University Symphonic Band is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 755-3991.