Author: Matt Jackfert

Years ago, conductor Andrew Traschel was surfing YouTube – like many do. He came across a composition that fascinated him: Mason Bates’s “Mothership”.  Upon viewing, Traschel immediately emailed the composer asking for the possibility to arrange the composition for wind ensemble. This began a series of events that led to the creation of a debut album. 

In 2013, Trachsel and the Ohio University Wind Symphony released their first album Mothership, which would feature the work of band composers, both old and new. Bates’s piece “Mothership” served as the inspiration for the title and artwork of the album. It also served as a vehicle to feature the incredible musicianship of the members of the Ohio University Wind Symphony and the styled interpretation by  Trachsel.

The album also features classic composers like George Gershwin and Percy Grainger and their respective compositions “Cuban Overture” and “Spoon River”. Trachsel, himself, shows off his compositional prowess with a colorful arrangement of Robert Moran’s “Points of Departure”. 

The OUWS will be following up Mothership with their next album later this year. Traschel says it will include well-established composers like Michael Daughtery and his “Winter Dreams” as well as younger composers, including Viet Cuong’s “Sound and Smoke”. They begin recording the music this month.

To buy or find out more information on the album Mothership check it out the interview above or click here.

As he was conducting the ending of the American premiere of Kim André Arnesen’s Requiem, conductor David Donathan said his cheeks hurt because he was smiling so much. Donathan had just pulled off a once-in-a-lifetime performance by putting together an ensemble composed of the Opus Chorale of West Virginia and community orchestra performers at Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston.

Now that premiere is opening doors for the Opus Chorale as they have received an invite to perform Arnesen’s Requiem with choirs around the world as part of the Distinguished Concerts International series in New York City.

The group is also part of a new promotional video by publisher J.W. Pepper featuring Kim Andre Arnesen’s work. The publisher just released the video:

Opus is commissioning a new work from Arnesen for choir and organ in memoriam for Carol Eich – a former member and accompanist – who passed only a few days after the premiere performance.

David Donathan recently joined us on-air at WVPB to discuss Opus’s premiere performance. WVPB was also fortunate to host the American broadcast premiere of Arnesen’s Requiem as Donathan shared clips from the performance from April of 2015.

For those that want to see Opus Chorale live in concert, they will be performing November 7th at 7 PM at the Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston. More at https://www.facebook.com/The-Opus-Chorale-of-West-Virginia-37068339526/

Cellist Julian Schwarz performed live in our radio studios at WVPB this Friday. He stopped by to preview his performance of the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (9/19 at 8 PM). Maestro Cooper joined Schwarz to discuss the Cello Concerto as well as Beethoven’s 7th and Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture, which he will be conducting on this Opening Night Concert. 

Schwarz masterfully performed excerpts from the Dvořák on his cello, which dates back to 1743. He and Cooper dug into the nuts and bolts of the piece with a discussion on many of the elements and contrasting themes that come together in the Concerto. Schwarz says that the cello, “is the hero in this piece,” as it boldly contrasts the ominous music of the orchestral introduction. 

Check out the whole segment. Then go to the concert Saturday 9/19 at 8 PM at the Clay Center in Charleston. 

Tickets and more information: http://wvsymphony.org/