Wind Ensemble to Perform World Premiere of Chico State Senior’s Music Composition, “Elegy of the Falling Leaf,” April 7
What does Chico State senior Kevin Valenzuela have in common with music greats Leonard Bernstein, Richard Wagner, Felix Mendelssohn, and John Philip Sousa?
All will have compositions they have penned performed by CSU, Chico’s elite music group, The Wind Ensemble, during the upcoming Band Classics concert, Saturday, April 7 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Harlen Adams Theatre.
Valenzuela, a graduating double major at CSU, Chico – Music Composition and Recording Arts –will have his work, “Elegy of the Falling Leaf,” performed for the first time. He was given the rare opportunity of composing a work for the Wind Ensemble by Chico State music composition professor David Dvorin.
“When I was asked if I would be willing to write a piece for the Wind Ensemble, I was very interested,” he said.
This is by far the biggest project Valenzuela has worked on at Chico State.
“The Wind Ensemble is easily the largest ensemble I have written for and it was my first time writing for many of the instruments. I spent all of my compositional time last semester writing, continued working in my spare time over break and well into this semester.”
“Elegy of the Falling Leaf “ he said “represents a sentimentality I have towards the smaller things in life. I wanted to take something small and make it big, and so I imagined a leaf breaking from a tree and flying away on a windy day before finally coming to rest on the forest floor. I was inspired perhaps by the falling leaves last autumn, which is my favorite time of year, and my favorite time to be in Chico.”
Other works on the program include Bernstein’s Overture to “Candide,” Wagner’s “Trauersinfonie,” Mendelssohn’s “Overture for Winds, op.24,” Ira Hearshen’s, “Divertimento for Band,” Sousa’s “The Liberty Bell,” and several other works.
“This will be a chance to hear original band music composed by what are usually thought of as ‘classical orchestra’ composers,” said Royce Tevis, Department of Music faculty member and director/conductor of the Wind Ensemble.
Advance tickets, at $15 adults, $13 senior citizens, and $6 students and children, are available at the University Box Office, 898-6333; add $2 for tickets purchased at the door. For disability-related seating please call 898-4325.
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About Kevin Valenzuela
Kevin Valenzuela was born in Hayward California, but grew up mostly in far northern California. He began composing in 2004 while in high school and continued writing in college.
Now in his sixth and final year at CSU, Chico, Kevin has divided his time between writing and recording. He has submitted works to the New Music Symposium for the last three years, and has spent his spare time composing for Chico State Game
Studios and a variety of other student projects.
His work is largely influenced by quintal theories, tone cluster harmonies and late romantic/post romantic composers. He has written for a variety of ensembles and electronic instruments and his senior recital (for those of you interested in hearing more) is scheduled for May 3rd at 4:30 p.m. in PAC 134.
He is set to graduate this May with a degree in Music Composition and a degree in Music Industry and Technology (Recording Arts).
“I have always wanted to write music because to me it means you get to play every instrument at once (or at least every instrument you write for). Ever since arriving here at school I have wanted to compose for large ensembles, performing huge beautiful works that so far have existed only in my mind.”