Press Release

The Concord Band Presents Winter Concert with Trombone Virtuoso Don Lucas

Don Lucas soloist

Concord, MA — The Concord Band will feature works by two prominent American composers in its annual Winter on Saturday, March 3, 2007. This year, the Band is highlighting the music of J. Clifton Williams and W. Francis McBeth. Composer McBeth once described Clifton Williams as the "Godfather" of American concert band music. This concert will feature three compositions by Clifton Williams as well as a special performance by trombone virtuoso Don Lucas.

Most widely acclaimed as a composer of serious music for the concert wind band, Clifton Williams composed in many forms. His compositions in this medium have become basic repertory for American, Canadian, European, and Japanese Bands.

Paul Berler, Assistant Conductor of the Concord Band, will open the concert with Williams' Strategic Air Command March, one of very few marches Williams ever composed, followed by his Symphonic Dance No. 3, Fiesta. Fiesta depicts the pageantry of Latin American celebrations — street bands, bull fights, and bright costumes. This work is one of five symphonic dances Williams composed for the 25th anniversary of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, in which Clifton Williams played French horn for many years. Fiesta was subsequently re-scored for concert band.

Dr. William G. McManus, Music Director of the Concord Band, will take the podium to conduct Caccia and Chorale, the last work composed by Williams before his untimely death in 1976. In the notes presented with the conductor's score to this piece, Joseph M. Tate writes: "Knowing the seriousness of his illness when he began this work and feeling that he might not survive an impending operation, Williams intended to write only the Caccia. However the surgery seemed to be successful and the Chorale movement was thus composed as a personal prayer of thanksgiving along with a sincere plea for ethical regeneration by all mankind."

To close the first half of the concert, the band will perform Kaddish, by W. Francis McBeth. Kaddish, from the Aramaic and Hebrew word for "holy," is the Jewish prayer for the dead. McBeth composed this work as a memorial for Williams, his beloved teacher. The "heartbeat" that runs throughout the piece in the percussion section is a rhythmic quote from a measure in the Chorale of Williams' Caccia and Chorale.

The second half of the concert will open with a performance of Tatarian Dances by composer Elena Roussanova Lucas. Elena Lucas, a native of Moscow, teaches theory and composition at the Berklee College of Music and Boston University. Tatarian Dances is dedicated to her mother, Lidia Roussanova, who still resides in Moscow. The Tatarian people are descendents of the nomadic clans of Genghis Khan who came from Manchuria/Mongolia. They traveled northeast, settling in Russia in the ninth century. The Tatars live on the fertile and mineral-rich lands of the Volga River region, the Ural Mountains, and Siberia. This area, called Tatastan, is now a republic in the Russian Federation. Tatarian music reflects the regions rich natural resources. This four movement suite expresses the many traditions of the Tatarian holidays. The folk music is fresh, lively, and melodious. Composer Elena Lucas resides in Boston with her husband, trombone soloist Don Lucas, who also performs in the program.

The concert will close with a performance of William Goldstein's Colloquy, a work for solo trombone and symphonic band. This work was commissioned by the United States Army Band and premiered before 12,000 people at an outdoor concert in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1967. The New York Premiere took place at Carnegie Hall. Trombonist Joe Alessi of the New York Philharmonic recently recorded Colloquy as did Ron Barron of the Boston Symphony Orchestra a few years earlier. The Concord Band is honored to feature trombonist Don Lucas, Chair of the Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion Department at Boston University, in their performance of this masterwork for trombone and symphonic band.

The concert begins at 8:00 pm at 51 Walden Street in Concord. Tickets at $10.00 each ($5 for students and seniors) are available at the door.

The Concord Band, founded in 1959, is one of the leading community concert bands in the United States. It is well known for its innovative programming and the exceptional quality of its commissioned pieces. It presents both formal and Pops concerts throughout the year. Its summer concerts at Fruitlands Museums in Harvard, Massachusetts are attended by thousands each year. Visit our website: www.concordband.org

For additional information, contact Jean Munro, Concord Band Publicity. Visit our website at www.concordband.org.