The Alternative Press

The celebrated Hanover Wind Symphony will perform a magnificent concert of musical pieces, all of which feature colors in their names, on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m., at Memorial Junior School, 61 Highland Ave., in Whippany. The concert is titled "Rhapsody in Hues."

The repertoire will run the gamut from "Purple Carnival" by Harrold Alford to "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin (arranger: Ferde Grofe), "Black and White Rag" by George Botsfor (arranger: Larry Daehn), "Beyond the Meadow Green" by George Farmer, "Blue Tango," by Leroy Anderson, and "Salute to the Colors" by Karl King (arranger: Bret Anthony).

Matthew J. Paterno of Parsippany, conductor of the Hanover Wind Symphony, points out that this concert spotlights an array of wonderful music, including such classic works as Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."

HWS associate conductor Kurt Zimmermann of Rockaway adds that "The connection between music and color goes back to the time of the Greek philosophers, who not only studied math, science, and philosophy but the arts as well. Artists use color the same way composers use sound--to capture emotion in a way that words cannot explain. 

"Titles of musical works are meant to portray as effectively as possible the composition to be performed, which in turn will express mood and emotion. So the works presented in this concert of color should provide listeners with some extraordinary experiences."   

Russell Ford of Randolph is the symphony's president.

The Hanover Wind Symphony serves the community by playing marches, toe-tappers, and standards while also presenting pieces written by current active composers, some of whom are members of the ensemble. The group provides a platform to showcase world-class artists, among them Joseph Alessi and Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic; Patrick Sheridan, one of the world’s most famous tuba players; Steven Meade, world-renowned euphonium soloist and recording artist; and Dr. Paul Cohen, the world’s premier classical alto saxophone player.

The symphony has performed at various regional venues in the Northeast, including the Boston Festival of Bands at Faneuil Hall in Boston; the New York Brass Conference in New York City; the Nicholas Music Center, Rutgers University in New Brunswick; the Weis Performing Arts Center, Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.; The Abbey at Delbarton in Morristown; The Natirar Estate in Peapack; the Community Theatre in Morristown; and the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City.

The Hanover Wind Symphony received a 2011 Local Arts Grant from the Arts Council of the Morris Area.

For further information about the Hanover Wind Symphony or the “Rhapsody in Hues” concert, visit www.hanoverwinds.org.