Crane Wind Ensemble to Present World Premiere of 'Quicksilver' During Next Concert

Related Media

Assistant Professor of Saxophone Dr. Casey Grev will perform in the world premiere of “Quicksilver” by Stacy Garrop, alongside the Crane Wind Ensemble, on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Hosmer Hall.

POTSDAM, NY (10/12/2017) (readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music invites the public to enjoy the Crane Wind Ensemble's second concert of the semester on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m., in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.

The concert will open with "Variants on a Medieval Tune" by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, Norman Dello Joio. The work is a theme and variations on the Middle Ages hymn, "In Dulci Jubilo," better recognized today as the Christmas carol, "Good Christian Men, Rejoice."

This will be followed by the world premiere of Stacy Garrop's concerto for alto saxophone and wind ensemble, titled "Quicksilver," featuring Assistant Professor Dr. Casey Grev on saxophone. The work is inspired by the Roman god Mercury, as well as the mercurial nature of the saxophone -- unpredictable, very lively and volatile.

The Crane Wind Ensemble concert will conclude with Steven Bryant's monumental work for wind ensemble and electronics, "Ecstatic Waters."

This concert is free, and the public is invited to attend.

About the performers:

Formed in 1956 by Willard Musser, the Crane Wind Ensemble comprises 58 of the most outstanding wind and percussion majors in The Crane School of Music. Conducted this semester by Visiting Instructor Stephen Meyer, the Crane Wind Ensemble performs as a full wind band and also in smaller chamber groups with varied instrumentation. This group is dedicated to the performance of the finest wind repertoire, regardless of period or disposition of instrumental forces. The Crane Wind Ensemble is also committed to performing music of our time, and is active in working with composers in the commissioning of new works to support this goal. Recent premieres have included works by Stephen Bryant, Joel Puckett, Kristin Kuster, Roshanne Etezady, David Heinick, James Mobberley, Christopher Theofanidis, Gregory Wanamaker, Dana Wilson, D.J. Sparr and Andre Previn. The ensemble presents at least three performances each fall and spring, and also tours regularly. Recent off-campus performances have included concerts at the NYSSMA Winter Conference and at the NYSBDA Winter Symposium. In 2014, the Crane Wind Ensemble released their latest album, "Adirondack Songs."

Dr. Casey Grev is an assistant professor of saxophone at The Crane School of Music. A dedicated performer of contemporary music, Dr. Grev has been an invited performer at the Hot Air Music Festival, the San Francisco Center for New Music, the Resonant Bodies Festival, the Society of Composers National Conference, the Northwestern University New Music Conference, The Ohio State University Contemporary Music Festival, and was selected to study at the 2016 Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music. As a chamber musician, Grev performs regularly with the Viridian Saxophone Quartet and the Protean Duo. He has received awards at the Coleman, Fischoff, Music Teachers National Association and North American Saxophone Alliance chamber music competitions. Grev received both his master's degree and doctorate from Michigan State University, where he was a recipient of the University Distinguished Fellowship and studied with Joseph Lulloff. His undergraduate degrees in music education and music performance are from Ohio State University, where he studied with James Hill.

This concert will be broadcast live on the Crane School of Music YouTube channel at the performance time. To view the program and see other upcoming streaming performances, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/streaming.

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution.

###