City Winds pick up for concert

There are so many concerts at this time of year it’s often difficult to choose. If you’re looking for high-level eclectic musicianship, check out the Festival City Winds Music Society concert tonight at Concordia University.

Festival City Winds presents Winter Concert under the artistic direction of Wendy Grasdahl, the founding conductor since the group’s inception in 1995.

This particular concert exhibits the versatility and complex technical level of its three concert bands ranging from novice to senior. Grabbing the bull by the horns, they’ve spent months rehearsing a repertoire that spans the eras from music of the Baroque period to a Latin dance tune and a hybridized jazzy march.

Unlike many Edmonton bands where rehearsals are the main focus, Festival Winds has also created an educational structure. Although completely autonomous, they are partnered with Concordia University to create an avenue for music students to obtain credits.

“When a person comes in, not only do they rehearse, but we also do a lot of teaching. Hopefully this makes them more literate musicians and creates more adventuresome music,” says Grasdahl.

However, many of the 120 musicians ranging in age from 18 to 78 are not students. They are life-long musicians wanting to expand their expertise in a serious, supportive environment Grasdahl adds.

Grasdahl, who conducts the intermediate and senior band while Dr. Eila Peterson and Tania Lorenz conduct the novice class, usually builds a program of art works complementing variety and styles. “I look for music worth our time,” she says.

Opening the program is a lush arrangement of O Canada devised by Brian Applebee, a retired teacher from Westminster School in Edmonton. “It opens with a fanfare, a full brass chorus. It has a sense of mobility and it’s very uplifting.”

The 30-player novice band swings into Johnny Vincent’s Latin dance number Brazil. “The rhythms and styles work well for novices and they get to play all the Latin toys — shakers and quiros.”

Instead, the 45-member intermediate band steps back in time with a transcription of Johan Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B Flat. “With Bach, the music transfers so beautifully. You get an essence of a large pipe organ and it sits well with the concert band.”

The 45-piece advanced band displays one of their shining moments in Death or Glory, a march from the fictional British movie Brassed Off about a competitive brass band. “Of course we’re going for the glory side.”

Other offerings are Thomas Doss’ resonant St. Florian Choral, Sammy Nestico’s The Boys of Wexford, a jazz infused march and James Curnow’s brassy Christmas Canticle.

“At this concert you will not feel overwhelmed by Christmas, but be excited by the nobility of music that touches your heart.”

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Call 780-420-1757 or purchase online at www.tixonthesquare.ca.