When: 4 p.m., Sunday, March 13
Where:Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, CLC, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Tickets: $7-$8
Information:847- 543-2300
A familiar orchestral transcription along with 21st century compositions and a piece featuring 30 vocalists will be on the program for the College of Lake County Wind Ensemble concert on March 13, according to its director Michael Flack.
“The whole way I programmed it is to take the audience on a journey,” Flack said.
Two pieces, “Rise of the Firebird” by Steven Reinekeand “Resplendent Glory,” by Rossano Galantewere written this century, and Flack expects them to become standard repertoire someday for wind ensembles and concert bands. They’re audience pleasers, and the wind ensemble enjoys playing them, he said.
The opener, “‘Rise of the Firebird’ is short, fast and quick, and shows off some of the technique of the instruments. “It’s very approachable for the audience. It’s very bright and showy,” Flack said.
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The director chose “Resplendent Glory,” the closer, because it challenges the brass section. “I have a very strong brass section,” Flack said.
In between are audience pleasers includingselections from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein, and “When You Wish Upon A Star,” the tune made famous by Walt Disney’s Jiminy Cricket, arranged by Sammy Nestico.
Immediately following that piece, Flack takes the audience on a journey to Mars when the ensemble performs a movement from an orchestra suite of seven moments called “The Planets,” written by Gustav Holst between 1914 and 1916. Holst later arranged it for concert band.
“Mars” is a serious piece that evokes a sense of dread, Flack said. Holst used unusual time signatures in the piece and “it’s one of the most challenging the wind ensemble is performing,” Flack said.
“Any time you do an orchestral piece as a transcription, it’s tough,” requiring clarinet players to play all the parts originally written for violin, he said.
Adding to the eclectic program is a piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams, “O How Amiable,” which includes 30 College of Lake County vocalists from different choir ensembles at the school. “I like to change it up. I like give the audience something different,” Flack said.
The ensemble will also perform the Navy hymn, “Eternal Father Strong to Save,” which features what Flack calls “six awesome French horn players.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.