Colombo Wind Orchestra in concert

The second annual concert of the Colombo Wind Orchestra (CWO) is scheduled for the 24th of March at the Ladies College Auditorium , exactly one year after their acclaimed first concert. This year too, the CWO will be conducted by Keiko Kobayashi who is well known to Sri Lankan audiences as a regular guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL). Ms. Kobayashi who has been also associated with the world famous Tokyo Kosei Wind Band, brings her dynamism and expertise to present an exciting programme of music at this concert.

The CWO which is coordinated by Naveen Fernando, principal trumpet of the SOSL, features the wind players of the SOSL augmented by leading instrumentalists from the police and the armed services bands and talented young wind players from the schools.

The major work for the evening is ‘Praise Jerusalem’, a set of variations on an Armenian Easter Hymn by Alfred Reed, one of the most performed of American composers. The work calls forth for every possible sound, color and tonal effect, showing off the winds, brasses and percussion of the modern wind orchestra in all their glory. In the finale, the orchestra is joined by a six voice brass choir to bring the work to a glorious finish. Another work by Alfred Reed featured in the concert is a lovely setting of the famous chorale theme from Bach’s ‘St. Mathew Passion’.

The programme also includes the atmospheric ‘Song of the Sea’ by Rex Mitchell and in a lighter mood, Vaughan Williams’ ‘Sea Songs’ and Henry Mancini’s ‘Moon River’. As in their first concert, the audience can expect to hear some toe tapping encores from the CWO at the end of the formal programme.

The main sponsor of the concert is the Dr. Earle de Fonseka Trust, with Mathew Harmonics as the co-sponsor. Tickets are available from the Lionel Wendt Theatre.