Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Returns to Franklin for Fall Concert “Old & New-ish”

Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Returns to Franklin

Fall Concert “Old & New-ish”

Sunday October 19 @ 3 pm – Franklin Middle School Hamilton Street Campus

Free Admission

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band returns to Franklin to start its 43rd season presenting its Fall concert “Old & New-ish” on Sunday October 19 at 3 PM. Under the direction of Music Director William Berz the concert will be held at the Franklin Middle School Hamilton Street Campus (note the new location) 415 Francis Street Somerset NJ. Admission is free!

The theme for this program “Old and New-ish” describes each half of the concert.  The first part features music from the late 1500s a multi-movement piece The Battell by notable English composer William Byrd (c. 1540-1623). The second half features more recent pieces all by American composers.

English Renaissance composer William Byrd originally composed The Battell as a suite for the virginal an early keyboard instrument. The work is unusual in being an early example of programmatic music and portrays a military conflict as well as the events preceding and following the actual battle. This setting for band was published in 1964 by Gordon Jacob who freely transcribed the work for wind band.

The second half begins with John Zdechlik’s Chorale and Shaker Dance II. This original piece for band combines a chorale heard at the very beginning of the piece with themes from the traditional American Shaker dance “Simple Gifts.”

Let Your Spirit Sing was written by Julia Ann Giroux who has composed many great works for wind band as well as other media. This work features a flowing style bringing a sense of peaceful optimism. RVSB member and Franklin Middle School band director Kyle Fairbanks will be conducting this work.

New Wade ‘N Water is a contemporary adaption of the traditional African American spiritual “Wade in the Water” by composer Adolphus Hailstork. The work opens with an introduction using a G blues scale and mixed meter. Throughout the piece this introduction serves as an interlude between each variation of the “Wade in the Water” main melody.

Nonantum Bulgar was composed by Hankus Netsky founder and director of the internationally renowned Yiddish music ensemble Klezmer Conservatory Band. The title refers to Nonantum a district in Newton MA which is home to the city’s oldest synagogue and bulgar (pronounced “bull-ghar”) which was dedicated over 100 years ago. 

The concert concludes with A Tribute to Gershwin featuring 11 of George Gershwin’s most famous compositions spanning jazz popular and classical music.

RVSB comprises about 70 musicians from the northern and central New Jersey area. Band membership includes professional musicians and music educators as well as amateur musicians ranging in age from high school through retirees.

Music Director William Berz is Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University where he served on the faculty for 42 years and was Director of the Music department for 11 years.

This concert is funded in part by a grant from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission. For more information about the band please visit www.rvsb.org.

Host or Publisher donald grossmann