Wind Ensemble Features Guest Conductor And Composer

by Richard Veit

The Baylor University Wind Ensemble will perform the first of its two spring semester concerts at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in Jones Concert Hall. The concert will spotlight two guest artists -- composer Daniel Asia and conductor James Croft.
Opening the program will be Asia's Gateways, which was written for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's centennial celebration in 1994. Six years later, on a commission from the Baylor Wind Ensemble and the David and Mitzi Scott Family of Houston, Asia transformed his orchestral piece into a work for wind ensemble.
A familiar melody arranged by Percy Grainger, his 1918 setting of "Irish Tune from County Derry," better known as "Danny Boy," will follow.
English composer Kenneth Hesketh's Danceries will be conducted by Croft, director of bands at Florida State University. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Croft has served as president of both the National Band Association and the College Band Directors National Association.
Holy Roller, by American composer Libby Larsen, captures the rhythms and excitement of an old-time revival meeting. Originally scored for saxophone and piano in 1997, it was orchestrated for saxophone and wind ensemble in 1999 by John Boyd. The soloist will be Michael Jacobson, professor of saxophone at Baylor.
Concluding the program will be Igor Stravinsky's Octet for Wind Instruments of 1923 and Morton Gould's 1952 Symphony for Band, commissioned to help celebrate the sesquicentennial of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.