John Mackey is an accomplished composer who grew up in Westerville, Ohio. His work, “Strange Humors,” which he composed while attending Juilliard, will be featured in the Ohio State Symphonic Band’s performance “The Composer’s Voice.”
“Strange Humors” is one piece in a program that will feature the work of six composers at 8 p.m. Friday in Weigel Auditorium.
“It’s an early piece of a bright star in the compositional world,” said Richard Blatti, conductor of the OSU Symphonic Band.
In addition to Mackey’s “Strange Humors,” the performance will feature the work of OSU master’s student Jesse Searls. His composition “Rhapsody for Flute and Wind Ensemble” will make its public debut at the performance.
Blatti says the performance will represent the culmination of much of the band’s work this quarter, and that his students have been challenged by a demanding score.
“Between compositional time, score study time, individual practice time and group rehearsal time, there are thousands of man hours involved,” Blatti said.
Blatti is confident, despite the challenge of rehearsing and performing a diverse set of songs. The performance includes works by Mackey and Searls as well as composers such as George Gershwin and John Barnes Chance.
“We had a great rehearsal today,” Blatti said. “I’m looking forward to six more of those and a real sense of understanding and mastering the music before this final performance.”
“The Composers Voice” is the last performance for this year’s Symphonic Band. The band has worked side by side with four composers and performed three premiers leading up to this performance.
Blatti and his students have also completed a concert tour, performing for audiences around Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Other pieces in the show include “Colonial Song,” written by Percy Aldridge Grainger, “Shadow Rituals” by Michael Markowski, and “Black Music Cavalcade,” written by Columbus musician and composer Tony McDonald. “I think the audience will walk away from this concert amazed at the variety and attractiveness of this repertoire,” Blatti said.
“The Composer’s Voice” will follow a performance by the Collegiate Winds on Wednesday night at Weigel Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door and cost $6 for general admission or $4 for students with a BuckID.
OSU doctoral candidate Erika Svanoe will conduct the Collegiate Winds along with guest conductors David Gresko and Tyler King. The performance will include “Of Sailors and Whales” by W. Frances McBeth, a piece inspired by Herman Melville’s book “Moby Dick,” as well as “The Thunderer” by John Phillip Sousa.
“I look at this concert as the capstone of a very successful year of music-making,” Blatti said.
Steve Skok can be reached at [email protected].
