The Hope College Wind Symphony will
perform a concert titled "Composers React," on Tuesday, Feb.
20, at 8 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Each piece of the evening's performance represents
a composer's reaction to some outside event, and its
expression in music. For example, the program will include
Shostakovich's "Festive Overture," written to commemorate
the 37th anniversary of Russia's October Revolution.
Other pieces include: Frank Ticheli's arrangement
of "Amazing Grace," originally written as the reflections of
a slave trader converted to Christianity; David Maslanka's
"Tears," a reaction to the African author Ahmadou Kourouma's
novel, "Monnew" (itself a reflection on the dissolution of
African culture); Gordon Jacob's "Old Wine in New Bottles,"
a reaction to the English folksong tradition; and Leonard
Bernstein's "Profanation" from the "Jeremiah Symphony," a
piece based on the motives used during the chanting of the
Bible on the Sabbath.
The concert will feature guest conductor Professor
John Whitwell of Michigan State University conducting
"Amazing Grace," a piece he commissioned.
Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located on College
Avenue at 12th Street. Additional information may be
obtained by calling the department of music at (616) 395-
7560.