Familiar tunes from Canada's classical music catalogue will be trumpeted for the opening season of the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble (PSWE).
The Coquitlam-based band will showcase works such as Snake Fence Country by Howard Cable, Turkey in the Straw, Newfoundland and Quebec folk songs as well as compositions by Robert Farnon and Stephen Chatman at its matinee show on Sunday.
But perhaps the most highly anticipated event of the concert will be the world premiere of The Tribe Part 1, a 21-minute piece recently penned by PSWE conductor and saxophonist David Branter.
Its four movements are each based on a person who has inspired Branter:
Eric, a late friend, is remembered with jazz;
his son is characterized with classical rock and metal riffs;
his daughter is honoured with improvisation through Whispered Songs - that is, squeaky sounds she projects while busy on the computer "and, since I'm her dad, are totally precious and have stayed in my head," he said;
and an unknown band member from PSWE, with bebop.
For the latter movement, titled Joie de Bop and based on Beethoven's Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9, Branter has been "tantalizing this guy to figure out who the last one is about.
"It just might be the surprise of the show," Branter said.
Tickets to PSWE: Canadiana on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. are $20/$15/$12. The show is a co-presentation with the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Call 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
