Schwob Wind Ensemble’s Last Concert of the School Year: Featuring music by Bernstein, Williams, Maslanka, Mussorgsky, and Fillmore.

Written by Jill Gilreath

As the 2024-2025 school year concludes, the Schwob Wind Ensemble has one last performance, one which you don’t want to miss. On Thursday April 24th at 7:30 PM, the Schwob School of Music’s Wind Ensemble will perform their last concert of the year, featuring works by Berstein, Williams, Maslanka, Mussorgsky, and Fillmore. This concert will feature Dr. Aaron Jensen, trumpet professor at Schwob, as well as a final celebration of Dr. Bradley Palmer’s 25th year teaching at Schwob. The ensemble is conducted by Dr. Jamie Nix, director of wind ensemble activities at the Schwob School of Music.

The concert will begin with a high energy jazz ensemble piece by Leonard Berstein, entitled Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs (1949). Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, and pianist, most well known for his contributions to classical and popular music. Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs was written for solo clarinet and jazz ensemble. This piece was originally dedicated to Benny Goodman, and was first performed by Al Gallodoro in 1955. Composed of three movements, this piece features all aspects of the jazz ensemble, along with classical elements nested within. The Prelude, is high energy and features brass instruments, along with the rhythm section. The Fugue, is a large feature of the saxophone section. Lastly, Riffs includes a solo clarinet feature, and combines all parts of jazz ensemble.

Following this high energy piece, the wind ensemble will perform With Malice Toward None (2012) from the motion picture Lincoln by John Williams, and will feature trumpet soloist, Dr. Aaron Jensen. An emotional and vibrant piece, inspired by Lincoln’s famous quote “With malice toward none, with charity for all.”

Next, Traveler by David Maslanka, a piece commissioned in 2003 by the University of Texas at Arlington Band Alumni Association. A beautiful piece written for wind ensemble, Traveler was inspired by the many stages of life, and how we move through them. The piece begins with a powerful melody, and takes the listener through the last part of one’s life. Maslanka wrote, “The last part of life need not be sad. It is an accumulation of all that has gone before, and a powerful projection into the future – the potential for a tremendous gift of life and joy.”

The wind ensemble will also play the iconic piece, Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) by Modest Mussorgsky. Originally written as a ten-movement piano suite, this piece features themes and variations based upon an art exhibition Mussorgksy visited. Each movement was inspired by a painting seen in the exhibition; Gnomus, The Old Castle, The Tuileries, Bydlo, Ballet of the Unhatched Chickens, Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle, The Market Place of Limoges, The Hut on Chicken's Legs (Baba Yaga), and The Great Gate of Kiev.

As an encore, the wind ensemble will perform Henry Fillmore’s famous march, Rolling Thunder (1916) as a final celebration of Dr. Bradley Palmer’s 25th year teaching at the Schwob School of Music. A classic high energy march, featuring the trombone section. This encore will be the perfect way to conclude an extremely successful school year.

As always, admission to this concert is free. Come out on April 24th at 7:30 PM to support the Schwob School of Music, and enjoy a wonderful concert!

If You Go:

What: Schwob School of Music Wind Ensemble

When: April 24, 7:30PM

Where: Legacy Hall, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts

Free admission.