Orchestra:
Youth Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School, Wind Orchestra of the City of Singen, both under the direction of David Krause
The traditional Festkonzert of the Wind Orchestra of the City of Singen (BOS) in the Stadthalle on Saturday, December 21, 2024, is this year themed “Länder, Menschen, Abenteuer”. The concert begins at 7:30 PM. Three orchestras will present themselves to the audience that evening under the musical direction of conductor David Krause. The newly founded Children's Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (KiBo) will greet the guests in the foyer of the Stadthalle. The Children's Wind Orchestra was created as a successor to the former Wind Player Pre-Orchestra. After that, the curtain of the main stage opens for the Youth Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (JBO). The young musicians will already give a taste of the colorful concert overture “Celebration and Song”, which is a prelude to the 50th anniversary of JBO and BOS, to be celebrated in 2025. In the exciting work “Apollo 11”, the JBO will let us relive the spectacular landing on the moon in 1969, before we dive into fantastic worlds and breathtaking adventures with the film music from “How to Train Your Dragon”. A musical adventure full of surprises will be presented by the Wind Orchestra of the City of Singen with the work "Fantasy Variations" by James Barnes. The composer processed "the" famous theme of the violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) into a total of 20 variations, in which various instruments, instrument groups, and soloists are introduced. An extraordinary musical experience! In the second part of the concert, BOS will again embark on imaginary adventures with the powerful work “Tintin – Prisoners of the Sun”, better known as “Tim and Struppi”. The suite from the musical of the same name offers a wonderful selection of music that delights young and old alike. The following piece “unBroken” (unGebrochen) addresses the sometimes bitter reality of life and a widespread mental illness that is still regarded as taboo: depression. How can those affected and their family members cope with this illness without breaking apart? The impressive music by Randall D. Standridge attempts to provide an answer to this. And finally, we will embark on the "Kingsroad" in California with the masterpiece “El Camino Real” by Alfred Reed and experience the adventures of the early missionaries in this region, thereby uniting all three concepts of the concert motto. A musical delight full of temperament, feeling, and joie de vivre. Thus, the musical program of the concert evening provides numerous opportunities for astonishment, enjoyment, and reflection on “Länder, Menschen, Abenteuer”.
The musical direction of the Festkonzert is by David Krause. He is the conductor of the Children's Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (KiBo), the Youth Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (JBO), and the Wind Orchestra of the City of Singen e.V. (BOS). Here is a brief “profile” of his musical activities:
- Studies in "Wind Orchestra Conducting" with Prof. Hans-Peter Blaser and "Trumpet" with Prof. Claude Rippas at the
Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
- Trumpet teacher at several music associations and the Youth Music School Singen
- Youth leader in the Wind Music Association Hegau-Bodensee 1893 e.V.
- Member of the State Wind Orchestra of Baden-Württemberg
- Conductor of the Municipal Wind Orchestra Tuttlingen e.V. since November 2018
- Conductor of the Wind Orchestra of the City of Singen e.V. (BOS) since March 2019
- Conductor of the Youth Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (JBO) since September 2023
- Conductor of the newly founded Children's Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (KiBo) since
September 2024
Program:
Youth Wind Orchestra of the Youth Music School Singen (JBO)
Conductor: David Krause
Celebration and Song Robert Sheldon (*1954)
Apollo 11 Otto M. Schwarz (*1967)
How to Train Your Dragon John Powell (*1963)
(„Drachenzähmen leicht gemacht“) arr. Sean O`Loughlin
Wind Orchestra of the City of Singen e.V. (BOS)
Conductor: David Krause
Fantasy Variations James Barnes (*1949)
(After a theme by Niccolo Paganini
from: “24 Caprices for Solo Violin in A Minor”)
֍ ֍ ֍ Break ֍ ֍ ֍
Tintin – Prisoners of the Sun - Dirk Brossé (*1960)
(Suite from the musical of the same name) arr. Johan de Meij
unBroken (unGebrochen) Randall D. Standridge (*1976)
El Camino Real Alfred Reed (1921 - 2005)
(Latin American Fantasy)
Information about the works and composers:
“Celebration and Song”
"Celebration and Song" is a work by the American composer Robert Sheldon (*1954). With its rhythmic "drive", as well as an expressive melody, this concert overture captivates from the very first measure. Colorful sounds and tasteful percussion bring the opening section to life. A lamenting lyrical section with solos and almost floating accompaniment lines follows. A return to the original theme leads the piece to an exhilarating and energetic conclusion.
Composer: Robert Sheldon
The American composer and internationally recognized workshop leader Robert Sheldon, born in 1954, taught instrumental music in public schools. Additionally, he worked in the music department at Florida State University, where he taught conducting and music education and led the university's orchestras. Sheldon received numerous awards, including the “Stanbury Award” for his teaching, and multiple “ASCAP Standard Awards” for his compositional contributions to the symphonic and concert repertoire.
“Apollo 11”
“Apollo 11” was the sixth manned spaceflight mission of the Apollo program and the first manned flight with a moon landing. The mission, including the lunar landing on July 20, 1969, was successful. This achieved the goal set by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961, to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely to Earth before the end of the decade. And who does not know the famous words of astronaut Neil Armstrong, who was the first person to set foot on the moon: “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!” Approximately 600 million people worldwide watched the television broadcast of the moon landing. The stirring work of the Austrian composer Otto M. Schwarz (*1967) allows us to experience this historic event step by step from the countdown to the moon landing anew. A fantastic musical retrospective of the spectacular events of 1969, giving the audience the feeling of being right there in the Apollo 11 spacecraft.
Composer: Otto M. Schwarz
Otto Martin Schwarz, born in 1967, is an Austrian composer and conductor in the field of film music and symphonic wind music. He received his musical education at the Wimpassing Music School and the Music University in Vienna. From 1986 to 1987, he was a member of the Military Music Burgenland. From 1988 onward, Otto M. Schwarz taught at the Wimpassing Music School. Since 1990, he has been leading the local youth band. Among his early compositions, "Premiere March" for wind orchestra from 1992 can be found. Numerous other publications for wind orchestra followed, including arrangements of popular works as well as original compositions for symphonic wind orchestra. As a composer, Otto M. Schwarz is currently active in advertising, film scores, and signature tunes for major television networks like ARD, ZDF, ORF, and RTL. Since 2001, he has produced almost exclusively film music for international productions, including well-known series such as “Alpenklinik”, “Die Landärztin”, “SOKO Kitzbühel”, and “Agathe kann’s nicht lassen”.
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Drachenzähmen leicht gemacht)
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Original title: “Drachenzähmen leicht gemacht”) is a U.S. 3D computer-animated film from 2010. The plot: Hiccup is the son of the Viking chief Stoick the Vast and, unlike his father, a scrawny weakling. The only trait he seems to have inherited from his father is the desire to kill a dragon. His village is regularly attacked by dragons, so the inhabitants fight the different dragon species as if they were annoying “vermin”. When the opportunity arises for the scrawny Hiccup to kill a dragon, he cannot bring himself to do it, as Hiccup sees himself reflected in the eyes of the dragon. Instead, he sets it free. Young Hiccup meets other dragons and realizes that dragons are not really bloodthirsty monsters. In the end, he discovers the reason for the previous dragon attacks. After many adventures, dragons and villagers eventually live together in peace, forging a common future. The English composer John Powell (*1963) created the music for this highly successful animated film. He mastersly processes the breathtaking adventures of the scrawny Hiccup, using Celtic influences to create a masterful sound painting. The sensitively arranged adaptation by arranger Sean O’Loughlin for wind orchestra makes “How to Train Your Dragon” an almost youthfully fresh concert experience.
Composer: John Powell
The English film music composer John Powell, born in 1963, studied viola and composition at the “Trinity College of Music” in London. After his studies, he worked as a composer for commercials. In 1980, he wrote his first film score. In the following years, he composed not only film music, but also soundtracks for art installations exhibited in Europe, the USA, and Japan. In 1997, John Powell moved to the USA and collaborated with composers such as Harry Gregson-Williams, Patrick Doyle, and Hans Zimmer. In 2011, he received his first Oscar nomination for the animated film “How to Train Your Dragon”.
“Fantasy Variations”
(After a theme by Niccolo Paganini from “24 Caprices for Solo Violin in A Minor”)
James Barnes composed this impressive work based on a well-known theme by Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840). He was one of the greatest violin virtuosos in music history. The famous theme at the beginning of the piece undergoes an astonishing 20 variations, in which different instruments, groups, and soloists are introduced. The tempos and moods of the composition range from a gentle adagio to the brisk presto of the flutes. James Barnes himself remarked about his work: “The composition of the twenty variations is based on the famous theme from Paganini's "24 Caprices for Solo Violin in A Minor". It is the same theme that Brahms and Rachmaninoff used for their famous compositions. For many years, I intended to write a series of variations on this clever theme for wind orchestra, but I waited for the opportunity to write it for a truly outstanding group of musicians, so that I could compose whatever I wanted to express without exceeding the bounds of amateur musicians. When Colonel John Bourgeois from the 'United States Marine Band' approached me and asked me to write a piece for this orchestra, I presented him with my plan. I had been thinking about this piece for a long time and had already improvised parts of it at the piano. Finally, at the end of December 1987, I got the opportunity to start working on it. (…) After finishing, I realized why so many composers have used this theme. First, the harmonic development is much more interesting than the melody itself. But when this is stretched out, the melody and harmony are fantastic. And second, it is impossible to get the melody out of one's head. When I was working on it, I couldn't stop whistling the melody. I woke up in the middle of the night and hurried to write another variation.”
Composer: James Barnes
James Charles Barnes (*1949) is an American composer. After studying composition and music theory at the University of Kansas, he earned his “Bachelor of Music” in 1974 and “Master of Music” in 1975. Since 1977, he has been a lecturer at the University of Kansas for instrumentation and composition. James Charles Barnes is also a tubist and has performed with renowned orchestras in the USA. His internationally celebrated compositions are performed primarily in the USA, Europe, Japan, and Australia. The “Tōkyō Kōsei Wind Orchestra” has released three CDs featuring works by James Barnes. He received the “Sousa/ABA/Ostwald Award” from the American Bandmasters Association in 1978 and 1981.
“Tintin – Prisoners of the Sun” (Gefangene der Sonne)
(Suite from the musical of the same name)
Tim and Struppi (in the original French "Les aventures de Tintin") is one of the most renowned and significant European comic series. The Belgian Georges Prosper Remi, better known as Hergé (1907 - 1983), wrote and illustrated the humorous adventure comics from 1929 until the end of his life. The hero of the stories is the young Belgian reporter Tim (French: Tintin), who travels around the world and gets embroiled in adventurous stories. The comic character was introduced to the public for the first time in 1929. A total of 24 comic albums were created. “The Temple of the Sun” (original French title: “Le temple du soleil”) is the fourteenth volume of the adventures of Tim and Struppi, published in 1946. The Belgian composer Dirk Brossé musically adapted this volume into a musical in 2002. The plot: Tim and Captain Haddock arrive in Peru with the intention of finding their kidnapped friend Professor Bienlein. They set out across the Andes and through the jungle to find the hidden Temple of the Sun. Along the way, they encounter dangerous confrontations with criminals and wild animals. By chance, they discover the entrance to the Temple of the Sun and burst into an archaic ceremony. Our comic heroes are captured and presented to the great Inca. He condemns Haddock and Tim to death. They are to be burned at the stake, which is to be ignited by the sun itself through the use of a magnifying glass. The great Inca grants Tim the choice of the date and time of their execution within 30 days. Tim and Haddock are taken to a guarded living area. Here, Tim finds a newspaper clipping with a message that sends him into raptures. He asks the Inca to be executed at a specific date and time. The Inca grants him this request, and so they are led to the stake at the desired time. Tim “calls upon” the sun to send a sign. In response, it darkens. Haddock realizes that Tim has timed the execution to coincide with a total solar eclipse. The Incas panic. The great Inca begs Tim to let the sun shine again. Tim pleads with the sun for mercy, and it shines again. The great Inca pardons Tim and Haddock as well as the also imprisoned Professor Bienlein and lets them go.
In the refreshing musical adaptation by Dirk Brossé, we reunite with the clumsy characters Schulze and Schulze, Professor Bienlein, the anti-alcoholic Haddock, and many others. As diverse as the characters are, so are the various settings, all of which blend into a wonderful unity in this work. Johan de Meij arranged a wonderful selection of melodies from the musical in agreement with Dirk Brossé. It is music that delights young and old alike!
Composer: Dirk Brossé
Dirk Brossé (*1960) is a Belgian composer and conductor. He studied music theory, harmony, trumpet, and piano at the Royal Conservatory in Ghent. The years 1974 and 1979 saw him as a solo trumpeter in the United States of America. Since 1984, he has appeared as a guest conductor in Chicago, Vienna, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Since 1999, he has been the artistic director of the Tokyo International Music Festival and the Flanders Film Festival. Brossé is a professor of conducting and composition at the Royal Conservatory in Ghent and principal conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Belgium. He has conducted, among others, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the national orchestras of Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
“unBroken” (unGebrochen)
The work “unBroken” ("unGebrochen") addresses a widespread condition that is still shrouded in taboo in our society: depression. The American composer Randall D. Standridge processes childhood experiences due to his mother's mental illness and his own depressive moods. Against this backdrop, the composition describes his mother, who ultimately learned to live with her illness without breaking apart. Furthermore, the piece refers to the entire family, who had to learn to cope with the mother's depression. To ensure that the family did not fall apart due to this mental illness, his father also had to face the associated challenges. The composer therefore regards his parents as heroes. They mastered the very difficult situation for everyone with strength, courage, and determination. This experience empowered Randall Standridge to speak openly about his own depression. He himself says about his work “unBroken”: “Many people around the world have mental illness. Too many are afraid of what others think about it and what will happen to their relationships, jobs, and families if they seek help. They fear being seen as ‘weak’, ‘defective’, or ‘broken’. I hope that this composition will serve as a starting point for constructive discussions and thus help to break down social barriers. Those who need help should be encouraged to seek it. The musical piece is dedicated to my parents Ron and Shirley Standridge as well as to all people and families living with the challenges of mental illness.” Through his work “unBroken”, the composer aims to offer hope to all those affected by depression.
Composer: Randall D. Standridge
Randall Standridge was born in 1976 in Little Rock, Arkansas (USA). He received his “Bachelor of Music Education” from Arkansas State University. Some of his compositions have been performed internationally. In addition to his career as a composer, Standridge is also a freelance artist, photographer, and author. He received significant recognition for his "unBroken" project, a musical initiative to promote discussions about mental illness.
“El Camino Real”
(Latin American Fantasy)
“El Camino Real” (Kingsroad) refers to the approximately 970 km long historic road that connected the Spanish missionary stations in California. Between 1683 and 1834, Spanish missionaries established a series of religious outposts along the coast of present-day California. The mission stations were always about a day's ride apart, roughly 50 km. There was a custom among the Padres to distribute mustard seeds during their ride, so that the road would be lined with yellow-flowering mustard plants. Today’s “El Camino Real” runs between the Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma in the state of California. In fact, this road originally started on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
The American Alfred Reed (1921 – 2005) musically processed "El Camino Real" into an exceptional work full of Latin American elements, brilliance, and power. As the composer himself stated, the piece is based on a whole series of chord progressions that have been played by Spanish flamenco guitarists for generations. Their fiery style has fascinated millions of music lovers worldwide. “El Camino Real” was created in 1984 and 1985 at the request of the “581st Air Force Band” and is subtitled "A Latin American Fantasy". Although the work presents a challenge for every orchestra, it is a musical delight full of temperament, feeling, and joie de vivre for the audience!
Composer: Alfred Reed
Alfred Reed, born in 1921 as Alfred Friedman, was an American composer best known for his works for wind orchestra. His parents emigrated from Vienna to the USA before World War I. His father was originally named Carl Friedemann von Mark, but later shortened his name to Friedman. Alfred Friedman initially used the name “Alfred Reed” only as a pseudonym before officially changing his name in 1955. At the age of ten, he took trumpet lessons. His first private composition studies took place in 1937 and 1938. During World War II, he was a trumpeter in the “29th Army Air Corps Band” and later in the “529th Army Air Force Band”. From 1946 to 1948, he studied composition at the “Juilliard School of Music”. In parallel, he worked as a conductor and lecturer. Numerous trips took him to guest performances in Japan and Europe. Among other things, he wrote his 4th Symphony as a compulsory piece for the concert class for the World Music Competition 1993 in Kerkrade. Four years later, he performed with the wind orchestra from the “Senzoku Gakuen College” in both Kerkrade and the 8th WASBE World Conference in Schladming (Austria). Alfred Reed passed away in 2005 in Florida (USA).
Dietmar Weber
(Public Relations Officer of BOS)
Hall opens at 6:30 PM
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
