Bienen Ensembles

Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Friday, January 26, 2024 at 7:30pm CST

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Mallory Thompson, conductor; James Giles, piano

The ensemble’s first winter performance is centered around the inspiration composers have found in music from the past. Neo-classical composer Igor Stravinsky’s Circus Polka was commissioned by the Barnum and Bailey circus and written for a performance featuring 50 trained elephants and 50 dancers. Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, featuring Bienen faculty pianist James Giles, takes its inspiration from the 18th century three-movement form. Giovanni Gabrieli’s timeless Canzon primi toni, showcasing resplendent brass choirs, is followed by Kathryn Salfelder’s Cathedrals, directly influenced by Gabrieli and 16th-century counterpoint. Closing the program is Paul Dooley’s Masks and Machines, which takes inspiration from Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella as well as Renaissance-inspired dance performances by Oskar Schlemmer.

Igor Stravinsky (orch. David Raksin), Circus Polka
Igor Stravinsky, Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
Giovanni Gabrieli (ed. Robert King), Canzon primi toni from Sacrae symphoniae
Kathryn Salfelder, Cathedrals
Paul Dooley, Masks and Machines

Tickets are $8 for the general public and $5 for students with valid ID.

Sold Out

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Address

50 Arts Cir Dr
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

View address on Google Maps

About

Pick-Staiger is a 972-seat hall located in the Arts Circle on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University. The main lobby entrance for concerts is on the west side of the building (revolving and regular doors). Since its inception in 1975, the hall has functioned as both a classroom and performance facility for Bienen School of Music performing ensembles, faculty recitals, festivals, and professional guest artists.