Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Daniel Belongia, Phoebe Robertson - Influences and Expressions (2023) [24/96]

“Influences and Expressions,” a new album by the Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, was released by record label Tonsehen on Friday, Oct. 20. “Influences and Expressions” was recorded at Witherspoon Auditorium in November 2022 by Christian Amonson, former recording engineer for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. The project was made possible by the Pat and Roger Wattam Recording Series. The album includes “Slavdom” by Dr. Ksenija Komljenović, “DOPE” by Katahj Copley and “Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble” by David Maslanka.

Komljenović’s “Slavdom” was a world premiere piece when the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed it in concert in November 2022.

“The piece came as an exploration of my roots, and my roots’ roots,” said Komljenović. “I think we’ve all been thinking about identity for a long time, and the conversations are a little different where I come from. My country’s demographics are a little different and my up-bringing was a little different. There were all these stories constantly about which tribes each country emerged from. The tribe the Serbian people came out of were the southern Slavs.

“You start thinking, where does the beginning of Serbia…my identity as it is in my passport…begin, and where does the previous one end?” continued Komljenović. “Where does the Slavic belonging end? It was just a very interesting journey in trying to find things that connect us across the Slavic culture.”

“DOPE” reflects a pivot point in the career of its composer, who sought out the advice of mentor Omar Thomas and found his voice by drawing inspiration from artists such as jazz saxophonists Kamasi Washington and John Coltrane, Australian jazz and funk band Hiatus Kaiyote, rapper Kendrick Lamar and bass guitarist Thundercat.

“We had a heart-to-heart about myself,” said Copley when asked about that conversation with Thomas. “Typically, I don’t focus on myself as much as I should. We broke it down to the simplest thing…what music I listen to. I was naming band music because I’m a band kid and I write band music. (Thomas) told me that was great, but I’m more than that.”

Dr. Phoebe Robertson, who joined the ATU faculty as assistant professor of music in fall 2022, is featured on flute in the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s recording of “Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble.”

“As I listened to it, it completely captivated me,” said Robertson. “This piece is built around the four-part chorales of J.S. Bach. These were of massive influence in Dr. Maslanka’s life. Throughout his compositional career, that was his daily, almost meditation and warm-up to music…to play these chorales on the piano. You can feel, even when the music goes very far away from Bach, the influence of these chorales. The texts they set are beautiful and I think even more meaningful since (Maslanka’s) passing.”

“Influences and Expressions” was produced by Amonson, Copley, Robertson, Komljenović, Dr. Nicolas del Grazia, Dr. Jon Nash and Dr. TJ Perry. It was edited by Belongia, Robertson, Komljenović and Lara Mitofsky Neuss.

Tracklist:
01. Katahj Copley - DOPE
02. Ksenija Komljenović - Slavdom: I. Perun
03. Ksenija Komljenović - Slavdom: II. Morana
04. Ksenija Komljenović - Slavdom: III. Vesna
05. David Maslanka - Song Book: I. A Song of Coming Awake
06. David Maslanka - Song Book: II. Song: Solvitur Ambulando - It Is Solved
07. David Maslanka - Song Book III. Song: In Loving Memory
08. David Maslanka - Song Book: IV. Song: In the Crucible of Your Pain
09. David Maslanka - Song Book: V. A Song for the End of Time


Thanks to the Original customer!