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Community Band promises around the world musical journey

| March 12, 2020 1:00 AM

The Flathead Valley Community Band will present its concert, “Music of the World” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in the Flathead High School auditorium in Kalispell.

Under the direction of Allen Slater, the concert will open with “Fanfare and Theme,” an original piece written by Russ Newbery, a Whitefish High School graduate who is currently the director of bands at Hanford High School in Washington. The energetic work sets the mood for the entire concert which will take the listener on a musical journey to far-away lands.

One of the exotic pieces to be performed is “Arabesque.” Written in 2008 by Samuel Hazo for the Indiana All-State band, this piece is based in the mystical sounds of Middle Eastern music and composed in three parts — a flute cadenza sounding like an Arabic taqasim; a dabka, which is a traditional Arabic line dance performed at celebrations; and a large chorale interweaving all the previous musical elements

The Puszta is the name of a vast prairie in Hungary where gypsies often roam with their wild horses. In typical gypsy style, composer Jan Van de Roost wrote this original composition in 1988 that describes the temperamental, melancholic and flamboyant moods of the nomadic gypsies of eastern Hungary. Written in four movements, and subtitled “Four Gypsy Dances,” the exciting music of “Puszta” is bright, colorful and intriguing.

In “Lord Tullamore,” composer Carl Wittrock shows his vision for Irish folk music. Tullamore is a little village in the Irish republic, a country perennially associated with beautiful natural scenery, infectious dance music, and delicious whisky. The result is a diverse three-part composition of rousing Irish folk with a continental touch. “Lord Tullamore” reflects the full variety of the folk music of the Emerald Isle, featuring not only brilliant, technical passages, but also tranquil sections of lyrical calm.

The band also has many wonderful marches from around the world including “Puentereas,” a Spanish pasodoble; “Flieger-Marsch,” a German march; “Eagle Squadron” written by a British composer to commemorate the American pilots that helped in World War II prior to the U.S. officially joining the war; as well as some great American marches, including one by John Philip Sousa.

There is no admittance charge for the concert but there will be a free will donation to help cover the cost. There will be a reception in the FHS commons following the concert.