Band Program's "Last Full Concert" Concludes Year

On Friday, Apr. 13, the Samo Bands delivered another concert that marked the program’s last full concert, excluding the Pops Concert, of the year. Concert Band opened the show with lively pieces, performing “Bristol Bay Legend” by Robert Sheldon and “Denbridge Way” by James Swearingen. The blue lighting inside Barnum Hall created a dreamy underwater atmosphere that complemented the music. They were conducted by Meenah Alam, the UCLA Student Teacher Conductor for band. The Symphonic Band played two pieces, “Foundry” by John Mackey and “Charleston Harbor Celebration,” also by Robert Sheldon. They were also conducted by Alam. “Foundry” had especially memorable and unique percussion while “Charleston Harbor Celebration” was light and uplifting in a way that stayed with the crowd through intermission. “I played a recording of [“Foundry”] and [the band] was like, we have to play it,” Band Director Terry Sakow said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way they’re playing.” Symphonic Winds followed the Symphonic Band, playing “Suite of Old American Dances” by Robert Russell Bennett and “First Suite in E♭” by Gustav Holst. The energetic first song fit its name, conjuring images of dances on old Hollywood movie sets. “First Suite” may have been in E flat, but it certainly didn’t fall flat as it brought the concert to intermission. Band Director Kevin Mckeown began the second half of the night with information about the upcoming Pops Concert and a raffle.  The next band up was Wind Symphony, with the pieces “Bright Lights!” by Robert Sheldon, “This Cruel Moon” by John Mackey and “Overture to Candide” by Leonard Bernstein. The change to electric teal lighting added to the energy brought to the concert by Wind Symphony. “While listening to ‘This Cruel Moon,’ try to imagine a love that was not reciprocated,” McKeown said. He explained the backstory of the song was a tragedy found in The Odyssey. His brief anecdote gave a layer of understanding to the song that clarified its lonely beauty. Wind Ensemble closed the show with “Prelude No. 14” and “Folk Dances” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “San Antonio Dances.” After some commentary and praise from McKeown, Wind Ensemble excellently wrapped up the concert and finished with a stunning rendition of “San Antonio Dances” by Frank Ticheli.