Tag Archives: Little Rock Winds

Little Rock Wind Symphony in concert tonight. 

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Getzov

After inclement weather last month, the Little Rock Wind Symphony will be in concert tonight at 7:30pm at Second Presbyterian Church with Diabolical! 

Under the baton of Israel Getzov, conductor candidate, it will feature guest artist Blake Tyson on marimba. 

The program includes: 

  • Leonard Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town”
  • James Barnes: Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Paganini
  • Hector Berlioz: “March to the Scaffold” from Symphonie Fantastique
  • Blake Tyson: Anubis for Marimba and Wind Ensemble World Premiere
  • Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 2 (“Romantic”), Third Movement
  • Julius Fučík: Thunder and Blazes

Sponsored by Robert and Jo Ann McQuade

Energy and Reflection highlight tonight’s LR Wind Symphony concert

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LRWSThe Little Rock Wind Symphony returns to kick off the 2014-2015 season.  Entitled “Energy and Reflection” it features guest artist Christopher Wilson on trumpet as well as the musicians of the LRWS.  Following the departure of music director Karen Fannin, concerts this year are featuring conductor candidates.  Tonight’s concert is under the baton of Timothy Oliver.  The program includes:

Robert Jager: Esprit de Corps
Vincent Persichetti: Divertimento for Band, Op. 42
Gordon Jacob: “Intermezzo” from An Original Suite
arr. Mendez and Koff: La Virgen de la Macarena
     Christopher Wilson, trumpet
Paul Basler: Mangulina
David Maslanka: Requiem
Frank Ticheli: “Apollo Unleashed” from Symphony No. 2

The concert is sponsored by Bob Bidewell in honor of the LRWS musicians.  It begins at 7:30pm at Second Presbyterian Church.  Tickets are available at the door.

The Wind Symphony performs concerts each fall, winter, and spring in addition to its vastly popular Christmas Concert in December. All concerts are held at Second Presbyterian Church. Another annual seasonal highlight is the “Stars and Stripes Celebration” in honor of Flag Day, held  outdoors in June in MacArthur Park.

The Wind Symphony has performed in cities throughout Arkansas. Out of town concerts are usually sponsored by arts and education groups.

The Wind Symphony is supported financially by donations received from concert attendees and from individuals’ and corporations’ concert sponsorships. The musicians donate their time, effort, and talent as a gift to the city and to the audiences who hear them play.

Little Rock Look Back: Richard Rodgers

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richard_rodgersOn June 28, 1902, Richard Rodgers was born.  He grew up to become a composer, producer and arts educator. For his talents he was recognized with two Pulitzer Prizes, a Kennedy Center Honor, and seven Tony Awards.

He is featured on this blog, because one of his shows was the musical South Pacific.  The fictional heroine was Little Rock native Nellie Forbush.  Through the success of the show, this “cock-eyed optimist” represented Little Rock to the world.  Rodgers composed a song called “My Girl Back Home” which contained references to Little Rock.  It was cut from South Pacific before it opened on Broadway in April 1949.  However it was used in the movie version and appeared in the 2008 Broadway revival.

The works of Rodgers have been performed by the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Arkansas, Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock Wind Symphony and many other cultural organizations.  Numerous tours of Richard Rodgers musicals have been performed at Robinson Center Music Hall since it first opened in 1940.

Wave the Flag – Annual LR Wind Symphony Flag Day concert in MacArthur Park

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The Little Rock Wind Symphony’s annual Flag Day concert will take place this evening in MacArthur Park at 7pm.  Sponsored, in part by the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, the concert is the LRWS’s annual salute to the red, white, and blue.  Picnics are encouraged. There will also be free ice cream and free American flags to wave throughout the concert.

Featuring Jim Munns, baritone, the musicians of the Little Rock Wind Symphony will perform the following selections:

Morton Gould: American Salute
Leroy Anderson: Bugler’s Holiday
George Gates: Sol y Sombra
John Philip Sousa: Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
John Philip Sousa: The Glory of the Yankee Navy
Meacham / Norris: American Patrol
Rodgers and Hart: Blue Moon
Rodgers and Hammerstein: Some Enchanted Evening
Irving Berlin: God Bless America
Bob Lowden: Armed Forces Salute
Samuel Ward / Carmen Dragon: America the Beautiful
John Philip Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever

In case of rain, the concert will be played tomorrow evening.

Little Rock Wind Symphony – Pictures at an Exhibition

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lrwindsymphonyThe Little Rock Wind Symphony wraps up the 2013-2014 season tonight.  The program is entitled “Pictures at an Exhibition” and features Alisa Coffey, harp.

The selections with will feature the Little Rock Wind Symphony are:

  • Rimsky-Korsakov / Leidzen: Procession of the Nobles
    Claude Debussy Wyman: Danses sacrée et profane
    Mussorgsky / Patterson: Pictures at an Exhibition

Founded in 1994, the Little Rock Wind Symphony has been under the baton of Dr. Karen Fannin since 2006.  The Little Rock Wind Symphony is composed of over 40 full-time members and guest artists.

The concert tonight will be at 7:30pm at Second Presbyterian Church.

LR Wind Symphony concert tonight: Dancing Flutes

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lrwindsymphonyThe Little Rock Wind Symphony kicks off the 2013-2014 season tonight.  The program is entitled “Dancing Flutes” and features flautists Diane McVinney and Barry McVinney.

The selections with will feature the Little Rock Wind Symphony are:

  • Bernstein / Beeler: Overture to Candide
  • Frank Ticheli: Rest
  • Gary Schocker: Three Dances for Two Flutes
  • Delibes /Brubaker: “Flower Duet” from Lakme
  • Strauss / Reger: Solemn Entry
  • Franz Krommer: Octet-Partita op. 57, mvt. 1
  • Boris Kozhevnikov: Symphony No. 3 “Slavyanskaya”

Founded in 1994, the Little Rock Wind Symphony has been under the baton of Dr. Karen Fannin since 2006.  The Little Rock Wind Symphony is composed of over 40 full-time members and guest artists.

The concert tonight will be at 7:30pm at Second Presbyterian Church.

Flag Day Concert in MacArthur Park tonite

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flagdayOn Saturday, June 8, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History will host the 17th annual Flag Day concert, A Stars and Stripes Celebration, featuring the Little Rock Wind Symphony.

The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free to the public.

Our annual Flag Day salute to the red, white, and blue, features hand-clapping marches, flag-waving patriotic songs, toe-tapping happy tunes.  There will be free American flags, ice cream and water.

The program will featured Timothy Tucker, baritone in selections with the LR Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Karen Fannin.  The performance will include:

  • Dudley Buck: Festival Overture on the Star Spangled Banner 
  • John Philip Sousa: Washington Post March
  • Sousa: Who’s Who in Navy Blue
  • Aaron Copland: Old American Songs
  • James Barnes: Star-Spangled Salute!
  • Henry Fillmore: The Klaxon
  • Henry Fillmore: Circus Bee
  • Irving Berlin: God Bless America
  • Bob Lowden: Armed Forces Salute
  • Samuel Ward / Carmen Dragon: America the Beautiful
  • Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever

 

flagdayaudienceBring a picnic dinner for your family, lawn chairs or a blanket, and enjoy the concert at historic MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock.   Dogs on leashes are welcome — and don’t forget there is a new dog park in MacArthur Park as well.

Black Hound Barbecue and Hot Dog Mike will be available to purchase food as well.  In the event of rain, the concert will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 9.

This event is sponsored by MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Little Rock Wind Symphony, Blue Bell Creameries, Woodmen of the World, Central Arkansas Water and Premium Refreshment Service.