Wind Ensemble premieres 'The First State' Sunday

The University of Delaware Wind Ensemble

2:59 p.m., March 16, 2006--UD's Department of Music will present its Wind Ensemble in concert at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 19, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building.

Directed by Robert J. Streckfuss, professor of music, the concert will feature American music, including Mark Camphouse's A Movement for Rosa Parks, Michael Hennagin's Jubilee, Jack Stamp's Cloudsplitter Fanfare, Joseph Curiale's Joy and Compassion and Morton Gould's American Salute. The concert also will premiere Sy Brandon's new musical work, The First State.

Brandon was commissioned by the Xi Mu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, as part of their American Music Week, to write this piece specifically for the concert. Brandon, who is professor emeritus of music at Millersville University, has won many prizes for his compositions.

The First State is a three-movement musical portrait of Delaware up until it was the first state to ratify the constitution. The three movements are: “The Stewards of the Land,” which is a tribute to the Lenni Lenape Indians; “Settlement and Conflict,” which reflects the European settlement and conflict with the Indians; and “Forging a Nation,” which portrays the evens leading up to ratifying the U.S. Constitution. This work will be available for purchase after the premiere.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $3 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Trabant University Center or Bob Carpenter Center box offices.

For more information, call (302) 831-2577.

Article by Jessica Tavasti, AS '06

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