The St. Albert Community Band is in full swing, as conductor Dr. Angela Schroeder returns after a one-year sabbatical.
“It was nice to take a break," Schroeder said. "I spent the fall in China with one of my students researching her doctoral thesis. I visited schools and it was nice to see what makes different types of music so notable across the world. But I am thrilled to be back with the band.”
She has titled her return concert Tinsel Tunes, a winter’s eve with both St. Albert Community Band’s 80-plus musicians and Saint City Big Band, funkier 18-piece jazz band.
To put people in a warm mindset, Schroeder is introducing a Broadway medley of old familiars including an instrumental version of Ding Dong Merrily on High.
“It features percussion. There’s lots of bell-type sounds, chimes and vibraphones. It sets up the bright, shiny feeling of the season,” Schroeder said.
Opening the community band set is the music of Silverado, a 1985 American western film starring Kevin Costner.
“It’s a very dramatic piece with flourishes that sound almost like a fanfare. It’s a technical challenge. But having the stage filled with 80 musicians is so rewarding and it sounds so good.”
A much-loved band member, Karen McGale-Connolly, died during the 2023-24 season. At the time, Schroeder was away and would like to dedicate Nicole Piunno’s Safety Rest to McGale-Connolly.
“It’s almost a blend of Amazing Grace and Taps. She mixes them together and you never see the full statement. It’s very poignant and very slow.”
Schroeder has included the Alberta premiere of The Canadian Band Association Competition winner, Griffen Hook’s Cape Breton Skies. The seven-minute piece recreates Cape Breton’s rolling green landscapes with powerful water images.
“It goes from gentle, lyrical and even pastoral to excitable marches. It’s a very bouncy march.”
On the other hand, Saint City Big Band’s funkier jazz charts takes the audience on a rollicking journey. Band director Brian Demuynck is excited to introduce a musical genre developed by some of the elder statesmen of jazz such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Glen Miller.
“The music has definitely evolved, and there are a lot of people who enjoy a more popular version of that same music,” said Demuynck.
The band starts off with jazz legend’s Thelonius Monk’s blues tune, Blue Monk, and Duke Ellington’s trumpet highlight, Do Nothin’ Til You Hear From Me.
The big band is also playing Ray Charles Let the Good Times Roll.
“People will recognize the tune, but it’s not what you think it is.”
Demuynck has also added the slower A Gentle Touch as well as the more rhythmic Silver Bells with Barth Bradley on tenor sax.
Closing this set is composer Kris Berg’s high-energy Poultry in Motion. One of the most popular composers in the world, Berg originated a series of funky chicken compositions such as RU Chicken, No Ham No Fowl and Spring Chicken.
“We want to get people thinking about Christmas turkey,” said Demuynck with a laugh.
Schroeder encapsulated the spirit of the entire concert.
“The St. Albert community has grown to appreciate and expect great things, and the concert proves this and more,” she said.
Tinsel Tunes runs at St. Albert’s Arden Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 4, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for seniors/students. Call 780-459-1542 or visit tickets.stalbert.ca.
