Andrews University Wind Symphony Fall Concert

Took place on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.

The Andrews University Wind Symphony performs in the Howard Performing Arts Center. (Photo by Darren Heslop, University Communication staff photographer)

The Andrews University Wind Symphony presents its fall concert, "Songs of the Sea," on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center. The program will be available to livestream at www.facebook.com/AndrewsUniversityMusic.

The nautical theme of the program stems from several different pieces dealing with various elements of the sea. “Victory at Sea” was composed by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame) for a popular TV documentary series in the 1950s. The show documented the operations and battles of the U.S. Navy in World War II, and the musical score has become a classic, particularly the “Guadalcanal March.”

“Amparito Roca” is a very popular Spanish paso doble march but ironically was more than likely not composed by Jaime Texidor, the composer listed on the score. Instead, it was presumably composed by a British soldier by the name of Reginald Ridewood who was stationed at the Gibraltar military outpost on the sea at the tip of Spain.

Ralph Vaughan Williams originally composed his “Folk Song Suite” with four movements, like an orchestral symphony, but later took out the second movement, “Sea Songs,” and published it on its own. All four movements are adaptations of English folk tunes, some with names like “Admiral Benbow” and “Portsmouth” indicating their seafaring origins. The piece will be performed with all four movements together, as they were originally written.

“Cajun Folk Songs” by Frank Ticheli brings to life two folk tunes of the Cajun culture. Cajuns are descendants of the Acadians, French colonists who sailed to Nova Scotia before being forced out by the British and relocating to southern Louisiana. One of the songs, “La belle et le capitaine,” tells the story of a young girl who feigns death to avoid being taken by a sea captain.

The Wind Symphony looks forward to welcoming its audience, whether in person or online. Tickets are available only for current students, faculty and staff. Tickets are free, and reservations may be made over the phone. For additional information, contact the Howard box office at 269-471-3560. For a full season schedule of events at the Howard Performing Arts Center, visit howard.andrews.edu.