The L.A. Winds performed at the 58th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago on December 16, 2004 in the International Ballroom at the Chicago Hilton.

The performance included guest conductors Colin Touchin of the Warwick Orchestral Winds and John Thrasher of the Arizona Winds, as well as saxophone soloist Dale Underwood.

CDs and DVDs of the performance are available through the Midwest Clinic website.

The group was afforded the benefit of a rehearsal prior to the concert, albeit in tight quarters.

































Band members preparing for the concert.















































































































Program
Fanfare for the Great Hall Jack Stamp
In Wartime
   I. Hymn David Del Tredici
Aerodynamics David R. Gillingham
Windsor Processional Charles Fernandez
Colin Touchin, Conductor
The Worried Drummer Adolph Schreiner/Eric Osterlin
Don Caneva, Conductor; Ray Frisby, Percussion
The Happy Hungarian David Shaffer
John Thrasher, Conductor
A Gershwin Fantasy George Gershwin/Ralph Martino
Col. Arnald Gabriel, Conductor; Dale Underwood, Saxophone
New Mexico March John Philip Sousa
Aspen Jubilee Ron Nelson
Maura Piazza, Mezzo-soprano
Retratos do Brasil
(Brazilian Portraits)
   A solidão e o amor pela cidade
   A capoeira
   O maracatú
   Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro
   Carnaval de rua em Recife Hudson Nogueira

Program Notes:

Jack Stamp's Fanfare for the Great Hall is one in a series of exciting wind band fanfares that are a part of his extensive list of published works. Composed in 1994 and dedicated to Kenneth G. Bloomquist of Michigan State University, the work was written with the "Great Hall" of the Wharton Center at MSU in mind. In tonight's performance, the LA Winds also have in mind Los Angeles's new cultural icon and "Great Hall" — the Walt Disney Concert Hall — home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, images of the Disney Hall also serve as the visual motif for tonight's LA Winds printed program. Kjos Music; $50; Grade 5; 1:30

Whenever internationally recognized composers write a work for winds (such as Pulitzer Prize winner David Del Tredici's In Wartime) there's much excitement in the band community. Directors hope that these composers will add a significant work to our repertoire while also enhancing the artistic legitimacy of our medium. Tonight, time constraints dictate that we perform only the 1st movement ("Hymn") of this two movement work which was begun in November of 2002 against the backdrop of increasing tensions with Iraq. Mr. Del Tredici writes that a "congressional mandate... had become, by March, the shocking international reality of war... Composing music at such a time may have seemed an irrelevant pursuit, but it nevertheless served to keep me sane, stable and sanguine, despite the world's spiraling maelstrom." The movement's child-like, sparkling innocence, boisterous brass outbursts and extensive use of the hymn tune "Abide with Me" may well represent a metaphor for the "coalescence of forces in prayer before battle." Originally written with a long snare drum roll segue to the more bellicose second movement ("Battlemarch"), we've changed the movement's last 3 bars to provide a greater sense of finality to our abridged performance. We urge you to visit the Boosey & Hawkes exhibit to examine this important new work in its entirety. Boosey & Hawkes ; $175; Grade 6; 7:00 (18:00 for both mvts.)

David Gillingham's innovative tone poems have been staples in the concert band repertoire ever since his powerful 1990 tribute to the victims of the Viet Nam war, "Heroes Lost and Fallen". Aerodynamics, commissioned by the Sinclair Community College Bands, was premiered in 2003 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sinclair band as well the 100th anniversary of the invention of flight by the Wright Brothers. Mr. Gillingham writes that Aerodynamics is "cast in six sections: 1) Invention, 2) Dayton, Ohio, 1903, 3) The Wright Brothers, 4) Construction, 5) Flight, and 6) Celebration. The motivic material is taken from Scott Joplin's 'Weeping Willow Rag', written in 1903, the year of the first successful flight". The LA Winds would like to dedicate tonight's performance of Aerodynamics to Col Arnald Gabriel, USAF (ret.) for his enthusiastic support of our ensemble and his magnificent contribution to the American wind band movement. C. Alan; $140; Grade 4; 8:30

Charles Fernandez' Windsor Processional is a welcome new addition to the ceremonial band music repertoire. Written in London for his brother's wedding, it was originally scored for seven winds and later expanded to a full orchestral setting — now available on CD in a stirring rendition by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Although a native of New Orleans, Charles's studies at the Royal College of Music in London are reflected in the work's majestic sonorities that follow in the great tradition of Elgar, Vaughn Williams and Walton. C.Alan;$90; Grade 3; 4:15

Originally written for orchestra and percussion soloist by the 20th century German composer Adolph Schreiner, The Worried Drummer (Der Pauker in Angsten) is a delightful novelty piece recently rescored by the legendary educator, composer and arranger, Eric Osterling. The piece has been simplified and shortened --originally eight minutes long, it is now a little less than 4 minutes-with some of the more virtuoso parts omitted so that the piece will be accessible to more ensembles. Nevertheless, the rapid instrument and stick changes required of the soloist help the work maintain its humor for the audience-- and its angst for the drummer! Ludwig Music;Grade 3; $65; 3:40

With over 250 compositions and arrangements in print, David Shaffer is certainly among the most prolific of contemporary writers for school ensembles. Currently, he is a freelance composer, arranger and clinician, serving on the faculty at Miami of Ohio University. Mr. Shaffer writes the following about his newly arranged The Happy Hungarian: "Cartoons of the 30s and 40s made Franz Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" and Johannes Brahms's 'Hungarian Rhapsody No.5' instantly recognizable. This work cleverly combines several themes from both compositions into one fun-filled frolic through classical cartoon capers." FJH Music; $45; Grade 2; 1:45

Commissioned by Dr. F.J. Zimmerman, former President of the University of New Mexico, John Philip Sousa's New Mexico March premiered in 1928 and was dedicated "to the Governor ... and the people of New Mexico". Zimmerman had urged Sousa to incorporate into the march Native American Indian and Spanish musical themes, although, by today's standards, such stereotypical musical devices (incessant war drums, pentatonic melodies, cavalry charges and castanet and tambourine rhythms) may seem less than politically correct. Nonetheless, they give the work a "mini-tone poem" flavor and, along with the 10 bar phrases in the opening section and the rousing strains of "O Fair New Mexico" at the end, help this work occupy a special position in Sousa's creative output. Belwin Music; $50; Grade 3; 2:55

Ron Nelson's 1984 composition Aspen Jubilee is the third in his series of band works celebrating some of America's most vibrant and inspiring geographical landscapes. Utilizing an astonishing array of instrumental-and vocal--colors, opulent harmonic devices, and driving rhythmic figures, "Aspen Jubilee" takes us on a memorable journey to the Colorado Mountains. Mr. Nelson writes: "'Aspen Jubilee' is loosely programmatic. I was thinking of the stupendous beauty of the Rockies in general, of blinding sunlight on snow-covered peaks; of the frontier spirit of old Aspen with its brash, funny dynamism, its corny ragtag Fourth of July parades and fireworks displays. I was also thinking about indescribably beautiful nights under star-filled skies (the middle section is titled 'Nightsong'). There is only one passing nod to the Aspen which has now become a playland for the rich and famous". Boosey & Hawkes;$200; Grade 5; 10:45