Family Weekend Concert at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music Features Wind and Jazz Ensembles

Crane Wind Ensemble and Crane Jazz Ensemble Present Joint Concert on Sept. 19 in Hosmer Hall

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Brian K. Doyle directs the Crane Wind Ensemble (Photo credit: Robert Young, Blu-Note Photography).

POTSDAM, NY (09/12/2014)(readMedia)-- The Crane Wind Ensemble and Crane Jazz Ensemble will present a joint performance during Family Weekend, on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.

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

In their first concert of the year, the Crane Wind Ensemble will present "Toccata Marziale" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, followed by Rob Smith's "Beacon Fires." Smith's piece was originally commissioned for the Crane Youth Music Wind Ensemble, and has three movements, which were each dedicated to one of the program's first three directors. CWE will also perform "Trauermusik" by Richard Wagner, concluding its program with "J'ai Été au Bal" by Donald Grantham, which incorporates the popular and folk music styles of Louisiana -- including Cajun music and the brass band tradition.

The Crane Jazz Ensemble will open with "All of Me," arranged by Thad Jones, followed by "Little Gus" by Paul McKee and "Jeep's Blues" by Duke Ellington. The ensemble will also perform Freddie Green's "Corner Pocket" and Frank Foster's "Blues in Hoss Flat," concluding with "Love for Sale" by Cole Porter, arranged by Pete Meyers.

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. The CWE 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 CWE 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 include works by Stephen Bryant, Joel Puckett, Kristin Custer, Roshanne Etezady, David Heinick, James Mobberley, Christopher Theofanidis and Gregory Wanamaker. The CWE performs 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. Look for a new Crane Wind Ensemble album this semester.

The Crane Jazz Ensemble is the premier performance group in the jazz studies program at The Crane School of Music. The 20 outstanding musicians in the ensemble perform on saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass and percussion. The Crane Jazz Ensemble is directed by Bret Zvacek.

This concert will be broadcast live on the SUNY Potsdam website 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.

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