Campus & Community

SU Brass Ensemble presents annual holiday fare throughout CNY

Tuesday, November 10, 2009, By Rob Enslin

The Syracuse University Brass Ensemble (SUBE), led by Music Director James T. Spencer, later this month and next will present its annual series of holiday concerts throughout Central New York.

Performances are:

  • Sunday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. at Saints Peter and John Episcopal Church, 169 Genesee St., Auburn;
  • Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at SU’s Hendricks Chapel, with University Organist Kola Owolabi, John Warren and the Hendricks Chapel Choir, and Jessica Bowerman and the Hendricks Chapel Handbell Ringers;
  • Saturday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. at the United Church of Fayetteville, 310 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville; and
  • Sunday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 103 W. 7th St., Oswego.

All concerts are free and open to the public, though tax-deductible donations are accepted.

“This series is our gift to the community,” says Spencer, who has served as SUBE’s music director and chief arranger since 1986. “This season, we will present a variety of classical and traditional favorites, along with a few pop chestnuts that everyone will enjoy.” Spencer doubles as associate dean for science, mathematics, and research in The College of Arts and Sciences, where SUBE is based.

Selections will draw from the following: “A Christmas Festival” (Leroy Anderson, arr. by James Wood), “Winter Night: Sleigh Ride” (Delius, arr. by D. Wilson), “And the Glory of the Lord” from “Messiah” (Handel), “Good King Wenceslas” (Traditional, arr. by D. Court), “Gaudete” (Traditional, arr. by R. Newton), “Rondo alla Turca” from Piano Sonata No. 11 (Mozart, arr. by Martin Ellerby), “Capriccio Italien” (Tchaikovsky, arr. by Denis Wright), “Procession of the Nobles” (Rimsky-Korsakoff, arr. by Spencer), “Florentiner March” (Fucik, arr. by Roger Barsotti), and “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Lloyd Webber, arr. by Alan Fernie).

The concerts will also feature an audience sing-along, pulling from “Joy to the World,” “The First Noel,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night.”

The Dec. 6 program, known as “Holidays at Hendricks,” showcases a variety of choral and handbell pieces, including Gregorian chant, a Renaissance motet and a Nigerian Christmas carol. “Holidays at Hendricks” airs on WCNY-FM on Thursday, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. and on Friday, Dec. 25, at 8 a.m. It also airs on WCNY-TV on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 5:30 p.m. and on Dec. 24 at 9:30 p.m. DVD copies of last year’s Telly Award-winning broadcast are $15 and are available for sale at http://subrass.com.