The Department of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College is pleased to present three of its premiere brass ensembles and some special “senior moments” on its annual Brassworks! Concert, Sunday, May 18 at 3:30 p.m. This performance in Björling Recital Hall, lead by directors Scott Moore, Paul Budde and Steve Wright, will feature The Christ Chapel Brass, the Gustavus Trombone Choir and the Gustavus Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. The concert is free and open to the public.
Sunday’s Brassworks! concert will open with the Christ Chapel Brass performance of Karl L. King’s “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite.” Following the march, the Gustavus Trombone Choir will come to the stage and perform “Canzona for 8 Trombones” by Walter S. Hartley, the “Children’s Prayer” from Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Haydn’s “Achieved is the Glorious Work” from The Creation, and conclude with Tommy Pederson’s “Bosco Rosco.”
As a new addition to this year’s concert program, three senior trumpets: Nick Mason, Dan Leifermann and Eric Talus, will perform Leroy Anderson’s beloved Christmas tune, “Bugler’s Holiday.” Senior bass trombonist, Chris Allen, will follow on the stage with a low brass choir of fellow student musicians and perform “Blue Topaz” by Tommy Pederson. The Gustavus Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble’s set will follow with Handel’s “Almirena’s Aria,” and Joe Raposo’s “Sesame Street.” The ensemble will continue with John Philip Sousa’s well-known march “Semper Fidelis,” and close their set with John Stevens’ “Power.”
The Christ Chapel Brass will return to the stage to close Sunday’s program with the 3-movement “Frost Fire,” composed by Eric Ewazen.
Sunday’s annual Brassworks! Concert will begin at 3:30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. This performance is free and open to the public.