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Wind ensemble performs world premiere
October 12, 2007
The University Wind Ensemble performed the world premier of Scott McAllister’s “Krump” at their first concert of the year on Sunday.
Premiering a musical composition is a prestigious accomplishment, said Ed Powell, assistant music professor and director of bands.
“When talking about a piece of music, it has a lifecycle,” he explained. “(The premiere) certainly signals the beginning of that lifecycle, and there’s prestige in that.”
More importantly, PLU is the reason McAllister’s piece even came into existence.
Last year, Powell was introduced to McAllister’s music at a conference where clarinetist Robert Spring played McAllister’s “Black Dog,” written after the Led Zeppelin tune of the same name.
“Being an old rock-and-roll kid from the 70s, I thought this was a cool thing,” Powell said.
Soon after, Powell contacted McAllister for his price to write a piece for the wind ensemble and solicited contributions from 10 other universities. Since PLU was the driving force behind the piece’s creation, the University Wind Ensemble received the honor of playing it first, Powell explained.
While having a work commissioned may sound like a long and expensive process, Powell said it is becoming a more normal occurrence. The body of repertoire written for wind ensembles is quite small because the ensembles are relatively new in the musical world, having only come into existence in the 20th century.
When orchestras were in their heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries, kings and queens would commission work from their court, thus building up a vast inventory. In this day and age, academic institutions have taken over that role, Powell said.
Most of McAllister’s compositions have what Powell termed a “popular synthesis.” Though it doesn’t directly quote or sound like popular music, it carries the energy and feel of it.
Sunday’s premiere featured a piece inspired by the dance movement “krumping.” According to McAllister, it’s creating a subculture among teens in Los Angeles neighborhoods. Shaped equally by hip-hop, African tribal rituals, pantomime and martial arts, krumping is a frenetic, hyper, fast-paced dancing style.
McAllister’s composition juxtaposed fast and fiery music with hymn-like, ethereal slow sections. Throughout the piece, instrumental groups and soloists were given the chance to “krump,” emulating the energy and passion of the dance.
The other universities who contributed to the commissioning of the work include: Abilene Christian University, California State University-Sacramento, Eastern Washington University, Humbolt State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southwest Minnesota State University, Texas Tech University, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Tyler.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu.
“When talking about a piece of music, it has a lifecycle,” he explained. “(The premiere) certainly signals the beginning of that lifecycle, and there’s prestige in that.”
More importantly, PLU is the reason McAllister’s piece even came into existence.
Last year, Powell was introduced to McAllister’s music at a conference where clarinetist Robert Spring played McAllister’s “Black Dog,” written after the Led Zeppelin tune of the same name.
“Being an old rock-and-roll kid from the 70s, I thought this was a cool thing,” Powell said.
Soon after, Powell contacted McAllister for his price to write a piece for the wind ensemble and solicited contributions from 10 other universities. Since PLU was the driving force behind the piece’s creation, the University Wind Ensemble received the honor of playing it first, Powell explained.
While having a work commissioned may sound like a long and expensive process, Powell said it is becoming a more normal occurrence. The body of repertoire written for wind ensembles is quite small because the ensembles are relatively new in the musical world, having only come into existence in the 20th century.
When orchestras were in their heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries, kings and queens would commission work from their court, thus building up a vast inventory. In this day and age, academic institutions have taken over that role, Powell said.
Most of McAllister’s compositions have what Powell termed a “popular synthesis.” Though it doesn’t directly quote or sound like popular music, it carries the energy and feel of it.
Sunday’s premiere featured a piece inspired by the dance movement “krumping.” According to McAllister, it’s creating a subculture among teens in Los Angeles neighborhoods. Shaped equally by hip-hop, African tribal rituals, pantomime and martial arts, krumping is a frenetic, hyper, fast-paced dancing style.
McAllister’s composition juxtaposed fast and fiery music with hymn-like, ethereal slow sections. Throughout the piece, instrumental groups and soloists were given the chance to “krump,” emulating the energy and passion of the dance.
The other universities who contributed to the commissioning of the work include: Abilene Christian University, California State University-Sacramento, Eastern Washington University, Humbolt State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southwest Minnesota State University, Texas Tech University, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Tyler.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu.