We're thrilled to return to Sports Basement for Session 63! Join us on February 23 as we celebrate black history with a session full of orchestral music from black composers. 

We'll be kicking off the session with Tribute to the Duke, a piece for jazz band honoring the musical accomplishments of Duke Ellington. Next, we'll dive into William Grant Still's Dismal Swamp (for piano and orchestra). And we'll be closing with Celebration! by Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork, a piece described by the composer himself as "tonal, straightforward, energetic, and positive."

Session 63 Details:

WHEN: Saturday, February 23, 2019, 2:00–5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sports Basement, 2727 Milvia St., Berkeley, CA

TRANSPORTATION SUGGESTIONS: It's a 0.5-mile walk north of Ashby BART. Limited paid street parking is available, but as always, we strongly suggest public transit, biking, or ride-sharing.

Repertoire, instrumentation, and schedule are as follows, with conductor David Möschler, Resident Guest Conductor, Brian Adam McCune, and guest conductor TBA:

2:00-2:50pm - Duke Ellington - Tribute to the Duke (arranged by Sammy Nestico for jazz band) (1970) (~8')

INSTRUMENTATION: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxophones, 1 bari sax, 4 trumpets (B-flat), 4 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani, drum set, piano, guitar, double bass

3:00-4:00pm - William Grant Still - Dismal Swamp (for piano and orchestra)(1954) (~13')

INSTRUMENTATION: 3 flutes (3rd doubles piccolo), 2 oboes, 1 English horn, 3 clarinets (B-flat), 1 bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 4 horns (in F), 3 trumpets (C, B-flat), 3 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani, glockenspiel, snare drum, cymbal, triangle, piano, strings

4:15-5:00pm - Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork - Celebration! (for orchestra) (1976) (~4')

INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, 1 piccolo, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets (B-flat), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (F), 3 trumpets (B-flat), 3 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani, percussion, strings
 

———————> Sign up to play here! <————————

SHEET MUSIC for this next session is arriving from the publishers this week and will be scanned in and ideally available for preview online by February 13. We apologize for the delay. As always, it can be found on the Google Drive here once ready.

We pride ourselves on fostering a relaxed and welcoming environment and we also find that everyone has a great time when players come prepared with their parts. We ask any players that sign up to commit to looking over their parts (once available), and practicing so we all show up to the session ready to play and have fun! If you have questions about what this might mean for your instrument(s), please reach out to your section's Awesöme Ambassador. 

Reference recordings can be found linked above.

We'll have chairs, sheet music, water, and free beer for the musicians and beer for sale to audience members (of age with ID)! Don't forget to bring your music stand if you've got one.  
 
The sign-up deadline for small sections (winds, brass, percussion) is Sunday, February 17. Once that has passed, expect an email from your Awesöme Ambassadors with specific info and part assignments within the week (check your spam filters if this is your first session). Email your ambassadors if you haven't heard back by Wednesday, February 20. (Please be patient—they have a lot of information to collect before emailing everyone.) Their information can be found here.