The Wearing of the Green and Other Blarney Stone
Episode 6 of your LA Winds’ “4 Winds on Wednesdays” is a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day titled “The Wearing of the Green and Other Blarney Stones,” featuring 3 outstanding members of our Winds family — Sue Winsberg, Andrea Vancura and Ruth Beaver — as well as the United States Marine Corps Band!
This show opens with a beautiful rendition of the traditional Irish hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” as arranged by my colleague Travis Cross (Director of Bands at UCLA) and performed by our very own LA Winds. Next, is featured LA Winds co-principal flutist and Irish and Scottish music aficionado, Sue Winsberg, as she shares with us her expertise and experiences with Irish song and dance.
Before returning to Ireland, we’ll take a detour 900 miles East and 700 years back in time as we feature a work by LA Winds’ trombonist and composer Andrea Vancura. Andrea who talks about her Czech heritage and her powerful and inspiring composition, “Pravda Vitezy,” celebrating the Czech patriot Jan Hus. Excerpts from the LA Winds’ 2017 recording of this profound work is featured.
Next, LA Winds bassoonist Ruth Beaver — who like Sue and Andrea, was featured in our “Summer Sounds of Your LA Winds” series — performs an entertaining movement from a unique work inspired by precious stones. In this case, it’s not the Blarney Stone, but rather the purported healing powers and undeniable beauty of the “Tiger’s Eye” stone.
Closing out this live-stream celebration is the US Marine Corps Band (with LA Winds’ alum, Parker Gaims) in a very moving rendition of “Irish Tune from County Derry,” which many of us know as “Danny Boy.” Sue introduces this work with a very touching reading of the poem. My guess is there won’t be a dry eye in the house!
Finally, be sure to join us on March 31 for our next live stream program — “A Multi-dimensional Quintet of LA Winds — Plus 1!” featuring 6 of your LA Winds’ most versatile instrumentalists, educators, composers, arrangers, publishers, pianists — and, yes, singers!
Our “Virtual Wind Quintet” will consist of Alicia Pizzi (flute), Bom An (oboe), yours truly, Stephen Piazza (clarinet), Chuck Fernandez (bassoon) and Michelle Saddic (horn). Tune in on March 31 to find out some of the hidden talents of these engaging LA Winds stalwarts!
See you on Wednesday and thanks for your continued support!
