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Western Carolina University’s School of Music will present its final Wind Ensemble concert for the fall semester at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in the performance hall of WCU's Fine and Performing Arts Center.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature two well-known works for the wind band, “Lincolnshire Posy” by composer Percy Aldridge Grainger and “Russian Christmas Music” by composer Alfred Reed. “Lincolnshire Posy” pays homage to folk tunes from the Lincolnshire district of England, and includes six movements that bear titles of original folk songs – “Lisbon,” “Horkstow Grange,” “Rufford Park Poachers,” “The Brisk Young Sailor,” “Lord Melbourne” and “The Lost Lady Found.” “Russian Christmas Music” is one movement, but has distinct sections drawing material from the music of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It begins with the “Carol of the Little Russian Children,” proceeds through chantlike sections and Russian folk music and ends with “Cathedral Chorus.”

Other works on the program include “Divertimento” by Roger Cichy and Alfred Reed’s arrangement of “Greensleeves.” “Divertimento” has four movements dedicated to composers Aaron Copland, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. “Greensleeves” is a version of one of the oldest melodies in all of music.

The WCU Wind Ensemble has performed throughout the state and region at conferences and on tour. Consisting mainly of music majors, the ensemble has premiered works by composers such as Frank Ticheli, Edward Gregson and Paul Basler. The ensemble’s conductor, John T. West, associate dean and professor of WCU’s School of Music, has served as director of bands since 1985.

For more information about WCU’s School of Music, call (828) 227-7242.

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Last modified Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008.