Carthage Wind Orchestra and Concert Band
Dr. James C. Ripley, conductor
Wind Orchestra to perform at 2009 Wisconsin MENC Conference
A concert on October 29 by the Carthage Wind Orchestra will begin the 2009 Wisconsin MENC Conference, held at the Monona Terrace in Madison.
The concert will begin at 8:00 am, with the program selected to represent the varied traditions and 136 year history of bands at Carthage:
Michael Daughety - Aesclepius
Tetsunosuke Kushida - Asuka
Michael Torke - Priority from "Overnight Mail"
Leonard Bernstein/Sweeney - Suite from "MASS"
Ralph Vaughan Williams/Curnow - Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn Tunes
Wind Orchestra returns to "Metropolis"
Fritz Lang's classic 1924 silent film "Metropolis" will be screened on April 17 & 18 at Carthage, with musical accompaniment provided by the Carthage Bands. The photo above was taken in 2004, when the band first performed the accompaniment, based on the music of Francis McBeth.
History
The Carthage College Wind Orchestra, one of the oldest college bands in the United States, was established as a brass band in 1873 under the leadership of professor J.M. Helfrich. From its humble beginnings as a six-piece brass ensemble, the group has been subsequently been known as the "Concert Band", "Symphonic Band", "Symphonic Wind Ensemble", and "Wind Symphony" during its tenure of 136 years.
Distinguished conductors to lead the band were J.Q.A. Kimmell, Elmer Hanke, Merrill Brown, Woodrow Hodges, and Kenneth Winkle. The band has a long and honored history of service to Carthage College and the artistic life of the communities of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Carthage, Illinois. The band has also maintained a rich tradition in touring the Midwest. The Carthage band claims as one of its most outstanding alumni the composer, David Uber, who maintains a repository of his music in the Hedberg Library. A series of important events celebrated the 130th anniversary of the band in 2003. These included the band's first tour to Japan, as well as a midwestern tour, the premiere of a commissioned work ("Palimpsest" by Keith Carpenter), and the band's first compact disc.
A new CD was released in 2007,"Winds a la Carte", with another, "Think on These Things" slated for release in 2009. In May 2007 the Wind Orchestra premiered a new work for winds by German composer Matthias Kern. In 2007-08 the Wind Orchestra premiered a new edition of Howard Hanson's "Pan and the Priest" for chamber winds with Debbie Masloski as piano soloist. Several recent commissions will be performed in 2009-2011.
Scholarships to play in the Wind Orchestra are available for both music majors and non-majors.
Goals
The vision of the Carthage College Band program is that it will be the exemplar of private school instrumental music education in the United States. Ways that this vision will be accomplished include:
- Developing each student's own musical potential to the fullest degree.
- Dual emphasis on chamber music and large ensemble performance.
- Rehearsal approaches that support teacher training and music education
AS WELL AS exemplary performance standards
- Wind Orchestra methodology for ensemble sound in premier ensemble.
- Concert Band opportunites for symphonic sound experience.
- Flexible rehearsal schedule.
- Touring for performance development, cohesion of ensemble and recruiting.
- Clinics and outreach workshops for enhanced student preparation and recruiting.
- Recording for performance development, cohesion of ensemble and recruiting.
- Interacting and performing with world-class musicians
What makes the Carthage experience unique?
The Carthage Bands are not only an exceptional performance ensembles, but also live, interactive "learning laboratories" for our music education students. Those students in the music education program have opportunities to conduct and rehearse the bands, as well as receive guidance and feedback from the conductor and ensemble members. Rehearsals are structured to lend insight into not only how to make music, but how to teach music.
The chamber ensemble program allows students to perform in a variety of styles and venues both on-campus and off-campus. Workshops and clinics are arranged so chamber ensembles can also provide educational support for regional schools.
The location of Carthage allows students to take advantage of the artistic riches of the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas while enjoying the relative seclusiveness of the beautiful Carthage campus and the splendor of Lake Michigan.
Touring opportunities not only include the Midwestern states, but also Japan and South America.
Japan Exchange Program
Carthage College and Kurashiki Sakuyo University are partners in an exchange program that began in 2001 with the appointment of James Ripley to the faculty of both institutions. Since that time, students in the Carthage Wind Orchestra and Kurashiki Sakuyo Wind Philharmony have performed some of the most significant repertoire from each other's cultures. In addition, the Carthage Wind Orchestra has completed two study-tours to Japan in January 2003 and 2007. While in Japan, the Wind Orchestra maintains a one week residency at Kurashiko Sakuyo University, culminating in a joint concert with the Wind Philharmony. The 2005 Wind Philharmony tour also included a similar residency in Kenosha. The success of these ventures has prompted the administration of both institutions to draft a formal agreement, continuing the partnership to develop further exchanges of information, touring opportunities, and study abroad.
The Wind Orchestra is scheduled to return to Japan in January 2011.
What is the difference between the Wind Orchestra and Concert Band?
Simply put, a wind orchestra is a group of musicians playing wind and percussion instruments. However, the wind orchestra is comprised ONLY of the composer's specified instrumentation. Moreover, the wind orchestra layers the timbres of each instrument, rather than mixing them. Finally, the wind orchestra places optimal value on the expressive contribution of each member. The primary advantage of a wind orchestra is that it is able to change timbre based on the style of composition.
The Carthage Concert Band is an extension of the Wind Orchestra, and allows students addtional opportunities to further their skills as a musician and teacher. The Concert Band carries on the band's long tradition of performing works of historical importance as well as a variety of outstanding new compositions. Symphonic band principles are utilized to formulate the sound of this ensemble.
Dr. James C. Ripley, conductor - Director of Instrumental Music Activities
2008-09 Repertoire
Patio Pops Concert:
Prelude from "49th Parallel"- Ralph Vaughan Williams
Selections from “The Little Mermaid” Alan Menken
The Cowboys - John Williams
Raiders March - John Williams
Parade of the Ewoks - John Williams
Selections from “Robin Hood” - Michael Kamen
The Red Pony - Aaron Copland
The Wizard of Oz - Harold Arlen
Spellbound Concerto - Miklos Rosza
Winter Concert
Michael Daugherty - Aesclepius
Tetsunosuke Kushida - Asuka
Sandburg Reflections - Lewis Buckley (Laura Kaeppeler, soprano)
Gregory Rudgers - 200 B.C.
Michael Daugherty - Overnight Mail
Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. James Curnow - Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn Tunes
Christmas Festival
Leonard Bernstein/Michael Sweeney - Alleulia, Sanctus, A Simple Song, Offertory and Almighty Father from "Mass"
Lakeside Band Festival:
Frank Ticheli, guest conductor
Pacific Fanfare
Shenandoah
Angels in the Architecture
Nitro
American Elegy
Vesuvius
Spring Concerto Concert
Randall Croley - Concerto for Flute and Metal Orchestra (Christine Kelley, flute)
Igor Stravinsky - Piano Concerto (Deborah Masloski, piano)
Daniel Bukvich - INFERNO
Hubler - Concerto for Four Horns and Wind Orchestra (Kelsey Epping, Adryana Kusyk, Elizabeth Martin, Elizabeth Plapp)