Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 22:56:01 GMT
On Thursday, April 6, 2017, a Memorial Tribute Concert for composer John B. Edmondson will be held at 7:00 p.m., in the Wilson Junior High School Gymnasium in El Centro, CA, featuring an alumni band made up of former Wilson students who had presented the world premieres of the eight works that Edmondson had written especially for the Wilson Band.
Mr. Edmondson, one of America’s leading composers of band and educational music, with over 1,000 publications, had developed a special relationship with the Wilson Band through its former conductor Mitch Sturman, who retired in 2016. For each of the last nine years before his retirement, Mr. Sturman had commissioned multiple nationally-known composers for a multitude of new works for the Wilson Band in a music commissioning program that was rare, almost unique, in the United States. Edmondson was the most frequently commissioned composer, having written eight works for the band.
In 2006, he composed his “Serenade for Solo Clarinet and Band” in honor of Anthony Gigliotti, (1922-2001), principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1949-1996), and Mitch Sturman’s clarinet teacher at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.
In 2009, “Beguine for Solo Trumpet and Band” was commissioned, the first in a series of wind solos to be written at the junior high school level, to provide young musicians the opportunity to perform as a soloist.
In 2010, “Soliloquy for Alto Saxophone” was commissioned in honor of Amber Bryant, a teacher at Sunflower Elementary School, tragically murdered by her ex-husband.
2012 saw the composition of “Imperial Valley March, named by Mr. Edmondson for his fondness for the Imperial Valley.
“Remembrance” was commissioned in 2013 in honor of Edmondson’s good friend and fellow composer, and Mitch Sturman’s former junior high school band teacher, Elliot Del Borgo.
“Blue Angels Overture” was commissioned in 2014, written to honor the Valley's most famous "attraction"
“Taco Tiempo” was written in 2015. It was not commissioned, but presented as a "gift" to the Wilson Jr. High School Band.
“Imperial County Impressions” was commissioned in 2015. It was John's “Farewell to the Valley.” It was also the last work he ever composed. After writing it, he deleted his musical notation software from his computer, never to write again.
All eight of these works commissioned by the Wilson Band will be performed, as well as a newly commissioned work by local conductor/composer Joel Jacklich -- his “Elegy for Solo Clarinet and Band,” commissioned especially for this memorial concert.
John B. Edmondson (b. February 3, 1933, d. December 30, 2017) was known throughout the world for his more than 1,000 publications in the field of band and educational music. His contributions to the literature are accessible, enjoyable to perform, and exciting to hear. Perhaps most importantly, his music has helped train the young musicians of today.
In addition to his achievements in educational music, he wrote several hundred arrangements and compositions for various professional, military, college, and high school groups in the areas of marching band, concert band, jazz band, dance combos, and choral, as well as commercial television and radio jingles. This varied writing experience brought a unique perspective to his educational writing.
Admission to this memorial concert is free.
soundcloud.com/joel-jacklich/elegy-for-solo-clarinet-and-band
Mr. Edmondson, one of America’s leading composers of band and educational music, with over 1,000 publications, had developed a special relationship with the Wilson Band through its former conductor Mitch Sturman, who retired in 2016. For each of the last nine years before his retirement, Mr. Sturman had commissioned multiple nationally-known composers for a multitude of new works for the Wilson Band in a music commissioning program that was rare, almost unique, in the United States. Edmondson was the most frequently commissioned composer, having written eight works for the band.
In 2006, he composed his “Serenade for Solo Clarinet and Band” in honor of Anthony Gigliotti, (1922-2001), principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1949-1996), and Mitch Sturman’s clarinet teacher at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.
In 2009, “Beguine for Solo Trumpet and Band” was commissioned, the first in a series of wind solos to be written at the junior high school level, to provide young musicians the opportunity to perform as a soloist.
In 2010, “Soliloquy for Alto Saxophone” was commissioned in honor of Amber Bryant, a teacher at Sunflower Elementary School, tragically murdered by her ex-husband.
2012 saw the composition of “Imperial Valley March, named by Mr. Edmondson for his fondness for the Imperial Valley.
“Remembrance” was commissioned in 2013 in honor of Edmondson’s good friend and fellow composer, and Mitch Sturman’s former junior high school band teacher, Elliot Del Borgo.
“Blue Angels Overture” was commissioned in 2014, written to honor the Valley's most famous "attraction"
“Taco Tiempo” was written in 2015. It was not commissioned, but presented as a "gift" to the Wilson Jr. High School Band.
“Imperial County Impressions” was commissioned in 2015. It was John's “Farewell to the Valley.” It was also the last work he ever composed. After writing it, he deleted his musical notation software from his computer, never to write again.
All eight of these works commissioned by the Wilson Band will be performed, as well as a newly commissioned work by local conductor/composer Joel Jacklich -- his “Elegy for Solo Clarinet and Band,” commissioned especially for this memorial concert.
John B. Edmondson (b. February 3, 1933, d. December 30, 2017) was known throughout the world for his more than 1,000 publications in the field of band and educational music. His contributions to the literature are accessible, enjoyable to perform, and exciting to hear. Perhaps most importantly, his music has helped train the young musicians of today.
In addition to his achievements in educational music, he wrote several hundred arrangements and compositions for various professional, military, college, and high school groups in the areas of marching band, concert band, jazz band, dance combos, and choral, as well as commercial television and radio jingles. This varied writing experience brought a unique perspective to his educational writing.
Admission to this memorial concert is free.
soundcloud.com/joel-jacklich/elegy-for-solo-clarinet-and-band