“Influences and Expressions,” a new album by the Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, was released by record label Tonsehen on Friday, Oct. 20.
Dr. Daniel A. Belongia, ATU director of bands and professor of music, serves as conductor on the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s second major label release. The ensemble previously released recordings of “Symphony No. 2” by James Syler and “the softest breath” by Roy Magnuson through Tonsehen in April 2021.
“Influences and Expressions” was recorded at Witherspoon Auditorium in November 2022 by Christian Amonson, former recording engineer for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. The project was made possible by the Pat and Roger Wattam Recording Series.
The album is available for digital download for $9.99 at www.tonsehen.com/collections/atu-symphonic-wind-ensemble/products/influences-and-expressions.
It is also available on Spotify at https://spotify.link/mspy0OWe3Db.
The album includes “Slavdom” by Dr. Ksenija Komljenović, “DOPE” by Katahj Copley and “Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble” by David Maslanka.
Komljenović’s “Slavdom” was a world premiere piece when the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed it in concert in November 2022.
“The piece came as an exploration of my roots, and my roots’ roots,” said Komljenović. “I think we’ve all been thinking about identity for a long time, and the conversations are a little different where I come from. My country’s demographics are a little different and my up-bringing was a little different. There were all these stories constantly about which tribes each country emerged from. The tribe the Serbian people came out of were the southern Slavs.
“You start thinking, where does the beginning of Serbia…my identity as it is in my passport…begin, and where does the previous one end?” continued Komljenović. “Where does the Slavic belonging end? It was just a very interesting journey in trying to find things that connect us across the Slavic culture.”
“DOPE” reflects a pivot point in the career of its composer, who sought out the advice of mentor Omar Thomas and found his voice by drawing inspiration from artists such as jazz saxophonists Kamasi Washington and John Coltrane, Australian jazz and funk band Hiatus Kaiyote, rapper Kendrick Lamar and bass guitarist Thundercat.
“We had a heart-to-heart about myself,” said Copley when asked about that conversation with Thomas. “Typically, I don’t focus on myself as much as I should. We broke it down to the simplest thing…what music I listen to. I was naming band music because I’m a band kid and I write band music. (Thomas) told me that was great, but I’m more than that.”
Dr. Phoebe Robertson, who joined the ATU faculty as assistant professor of music in fall 2022, is featured on flute in the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s recording of “Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble.”
“As I listened to it, it completely captivated me,” said Robertson. “This piece is built around the four-part chorales of J.S. Bach. These were of massive influence in Dr. Maslanka’s life. Throughout his compositional career, that was his daily, almost meditation and warm-up to music…to play these chorales on the piano. You can feel, even when the music goes very far away from Bach, the influence of these chorales. The texts they set are beautiful and I think even more meaningful since (Maslanka’s) passing.”
“Influences and Expressions” was produced by Amonson, Copley, Robertson, Komljenović, Dr. Nicolas del Grazia, Dr. Jon Nash and Dr. TJ Perry. It was edited by Belongia, Robertson, Komljenović and Lara Mitofsky Neuss.
Members of the ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble who play on “Influences and Expressions” are listed below:
Flutes/Piccolos
Diana Nava
Olivia Hopkins
Hannah Smith
Callan Butler
Valeria Cordero
Oboe/English Horn
Grace Davis
Kelton McGhee
Marybeth Boroughs
Bassoons
Logan Anderson
James Heffington
Bb Clarinets
Tess Butler
Mackenzie Murphy
Corrigan Burkett
Morgan Bates
Mackenzie Epperson
Savannah Skaggs
Jacob Stover
Bass Clarinet
Kaitlyn Rebidue
Contrabass Clarinet
Esai Zesati
Saxophones
Mya Manes
Mady Johnson
Elizabeth Barrett
Ethan Buggar
Horn
Aaron Mack
Brad Wills
Zoe Covey-Smith
Hannah Lomax
Jacob Skaggs
Bb/C Trumpets
Sanders Hilburn
Kendall Pomeroy
Kris Campbell
Hayden Judy
Drake Hyche
Alex Louden
Preston Abbott
Trombones
Brendan Frazier
Gunner Hodges
Dawson Schalk
Bass Trombones
Carter Johnson
Jake Mitchell
Euphoniums
Brandon Williams
Preston Keeter
Tubas
Sean Perdue
Bennett Ashlock
Lorenzo Castelano
Percussion
Allison Spears
Nathan Brady
Jessie Hernandez
Riley Carpenter
Brandon Reynolds
Jacob Six
String Bass
Tandem Young
Piano
Noah Pifer
Harp
Alisa Coffey
