Classic to Contemporary
The Music of
The American Wind Symphony Orchestra
American Wind Symphony concerts begin with the spectacular opening of the music shell on Point Counterpoint II, AWSO's floating stage and art center. As the roof rises on hydraulic lifts the first strains of Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” are heard – and an evening of fascinating sights and sounds is revealed.
The musicians are arrayed in a series of stainless steel sculptured “trees,” so that all are visible. Even the percussionists perform right out front, with their gleaming batteries of timpani, drums, mallet instruments, chimes and bells.
Music of The American Wind Symphony Orchestra is featured in My Wake Up Call - a new motivational alarm clock.
Take a look at
www.mywakeupcalls.net
Music programs are varied and interesting. They typically in-clude classics such as Handel’s “Water Music” or Mozart’s “Grande Serenade,” as well as newly commissioned works, Broadway medleys and Sousa marches.
Ever since the early days of AWSO’s 53 year existence, Robert Boudreau has been searching out exciting young composers, and has commiss- ioned over 400 works. In his 53rd anniversary season, Boudreau has premiered ten newly commissioned works, three of them by young composers in their early thirties.
Canadian composer Mathieu Lussier, born in 1973, has written a new work for trumpet and bassoon with wind orchestra. Thirty-three year old Sergei Tcherepnin has written his second commissioned work for the orchestra, this one titled “Fantasy for Guitar, Winds and Percussion”. Then there is Minas Borboudakis, born in Greece in 1975, whose composition “Prisma – Photonic Constructions II” will first be heard on the shores of Lake Erie.
There is a Japanese contingent of several musicians in the AWSO this summer. These charismatic performers look forward to the exciting performance of Kaoru Wada’s “Jo-Ha-Kyu,” a tour de force concerto for the percussion section, which has electrified audiences for the past two years. Mr. Wada has also written a new work for the 2009 tour. Other composers from the USA, Japan, Germany, Argentina, Colombia and Russia will also be on hand to hear the first performances of their new works.
All in all, an AWSO performance is an unforgettable experience for the whole family. You can now listen to AWSO year 'round by purchasing our recordings. We have created a 10 disc collection for you to enjoy.
The recorded tracks and commissioned musical scores of the American Wind Symphony Orchestra are available for purchase at the AWSO Shop.
2009 WORLD PREMIERES
NIGHTFALL
by Canadian
Mattheiu Lussier (b.1973)
CONCERTO FOR THREE MARIMBAS
by Venezuelan
Efrain Amaya
(b. 1959)
GOLDSTEIN VARIATIONS
by American
William Goldstein (b. 1942)
PRISM-PROTONIC CONSTRUCTIONS II
by Greek
Minas Borboudakis (b.1975)
THE ART OF SEVEN
by American
David Morgan (b.1957)
TOONE
by Japanese
Kaoru Wada
(b. 1962)
CONCERTO FOR FLUTE
by Venezuelan Efrain Amaya (b. 1959)
MEMORIAL
by German composer
Rolf Rudin (b. 1961)
COLLOQUY
by American William Goldstein (b. 1942)
CONCERTO FOR GUITAR
by American Sergei Tcherepnin (b.1976)
ADAGIO FOR HARP
by American
Carlos Rivera (b.1970)
FESTIVAL ON THE OTHER SIDE
by Japanese
Masashi Ishida (b.1979)
VERTIENTES
by Argentinian
Javier Gimenez Noble (b.1951)
The recorded sound tracks and commissioned musical scores of the American Wind Symphony Orchestra are available for purchase at the AWSO Shop.