Lebanon Valley College Wind Ensemble to Perform Annual Spring Concert

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Dr. Heffner conducting the wind ensemble and select members at commencement

ANNVILLE, PA (04/16/2014)(readMedia)-- On Thursday, Apr. 24 the Lebanon Valley College Wind Ensemble will perform its spring program titled "Images and Emotions" at 7:30 p.m. in Lutz Hall of the Blair Music Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Wind Ensemble is a group of select musicians from the symphonic band that demonstrate the highest musicality on their respective instruments. As such, the grade of pieces, tonal texture, and feel of the ensemble is much different than your standard orchestra or concert band.

In this year's program there is a great deal of diversity. The concert begins with "Athletic Festival March" by Sergei Prokofiev. This is a fast opening march designed to evoke a sense of gaiety and humor. The concert continues with "Give Us This Day" by David Maslanka.

"The piece gives us this very moment of aware aliveness so that we can build a future in the face of a most dangerous and difficult time," Maslanka writes in his program notes. This is a two-movement work that begins "deeply searching, while that of the highly energized second movement is at times both joyful and sternly sober."

Next in the recital is "Lux Aurumque" by Eric Whitacre. This is a lush and poignant adaptation of his vocal song that is full of aural color. Music from the "Redneck Songbook" by Scott McAllister is featured in this performance. It is a four-movement romp that takes the listener on a journey through life in the South including a tractor pull, a mother's discovery of her son's head deep in the piney woods, a movement inspired by oak wilt disease that has devastated many great trees in the South, and finally a cage match where the listener envisions Rick Flare and Dusty Rhodes, two stars from early 1980s WWF Wrestling, embattled in a bruising match. The concert concludes with the pure, simple fun of "Noisy Wheels of Joy" by Eric Whitacre.

The ensemble is under he direction of Dr. Christopher Heffner. As assistant professor of music at the College, he directs the Pride of the Valley marching band, LVC symphonic band, and wind ensemble. Heffner also supervises student teachers, and teaches instrumental literature, fundamentals of conducting, and brass techniques. He remains active as a guest conductor and clinician working with groups from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Florida.

Lebanon Valley College offers numerous public performances by students, faculty, and guests of the College throughout the semester. For the list of recitals this spring, visit http://www.lvc.edu/music/student-recitals.aspx.