Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble Concert
Sanctum and Shadows
Between sanctum and shadow turns the wheel of fortune.
Friday, February 27 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Van Meter Hall
Hilltop Drive at WKU
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Music Department
Western Kentucky University
Potter College of Arts and Letters
Dr. Matthew Herman’s piece “Take Hold of Heaven” started and ended with the tinkling of a triangle. Like the entire, almost 2-hour-long concert, what happened between the bells was worth every minute invested in listening to some glorious sounds. The question is, how does one review all of it?
At the end of a gorgeous day in Bowling Green, a visit to “The Hill” is a nice thing to do and Van Meter Hall is somewhat of a “Walhalla of Music” for me, or a kind of “Parthanon” of creativity and thought. The facility is gathering a historic quality where the collective events held within its walls seem to become embedded within the hall itself. The vibe of such an iconic venue is unmistakable and makes an impression. It is the sort of building that deserves to stand the test of time. On top of that, it has amazing sound for acoustic music. So, if you have never been to an acoustic concert in Van Meter, the visit is well worth the trip.
In prior years, I have been able to go online to purchase a ticket, but this wasn’t available on WKU’s Showare site for tickets. I like to purchase tickets before I go, so I don’t have to stand in line. But, the $5 price and the relatively quick line to purchase made it tolerable. I highly suggest offering and advertising the online ticket sale to mitigate lines.
Symphonic Band (65 members)
Dr. Matthew McCurry, Director
Aaron Perrine: A Glimpse of the Eternal
David Holt, graduate conductor
Andrew Boysen, Jr.: Grant Them Eternal Rest
Dr. Matthew McCurry, Director
I. Introit
II. Kyrie
III. Dies Irae
IV. Sanctus
V. Agnus Dei
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana Suite (arr. John Krance)
Dr. Matthew McCurry, Director
I. O Fortuna, velut Luna
II. Fortune plango vulnera
III. Ecce gratum
IV. Tanz – Uf dem anger
V. Floret Silva
VI. Were diu werlt alle min
VII. Amor volat undique
VIII. Ego sum abbas
IX. In taberna quando sumus
X. In trutina
XI. Dulcissime
XII. Ave formosissima
XIII. Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi
Brief Intermission
Wind Ensemble (54 Members)
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
Andrew Boysen, Jr.: Kirkpatrick Fanfare
Megan Withers, graduate conductor
Percy Grainger: Irish Tune from County Derry
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
Nathaniel Daughtry: Black Rainbow
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
Featuring the WKU Wind Ensemble Percussionists (Dr. Mark S. Berry, Studio)
Matthew Herman: Take Hold of Heaven
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
John Williams: Adventures on Earth – E.T. (arr. Paul Lavender)
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
For this review, I will not spend time on the Carmina Burana or Williams’s “Adventures on Earth” from the movie E.T. Truth be told, they were not as interesting as everything else on the program. While difficult and played well, the orchestrations seemed anticlimactic compared to the other pieces, and you probably know them already.
Aaron Perrine: A Glimpse of the Eternal
David Holt, graduate conductor
This piece reminds one of the title music for an epic film score. The sound of the Symphonic Band was huge but under control and made one wonder if a Symphonic Band could be an interesting departure from regular orchestras for film music. It was perfect for the beginning of this concert. David Holt conducted with clear musicality.
Andrew Boysen, Jr.: Grant Them Eternal Rest
Dr. Matthew McCurry, Director
This piece, in five movements, was an “Ohrenschmaus,” a “feast for the ears.” I particularly enjoyed the solo performances throughout. This is an excellent composition with brilliant orchestration. The soloists — flute, piano, clarinet, and euphonium, if I remember correctly — were beautifully written and performed. At times, it reminded me of the effect of the swell section of a pipe organ when it opens and closes the louvers. The sound wells up, and you are moved by the sheer beauty of it. This piece explores all kinds of orchestration complexities. I was impressed that the Symphonic Band could play such a difficult work so well at the university level.
After the Boysen, the Orff was rather plain. The piece does not quite work because the choral part is so integral to this composition that hearing it without the chorus did not carry the same weight. This is to take nothing away from the Band’s ability to play it or to detract from my enjoyment of it. Its thirteen movements rounded off the first half of the concert.
The Wind Ensemble played after a brief intermission to reset the stage. Although visibly fewer in number, the effect of their playing was by no means less impactful. I was not quite sure what the difference between a Wind Ensemble and a Symphonic Band was. The Wind Ensemble has basically one person per part, while a Symphonic Band has more players per part. The idea is to create the same effect as a string orchestra and to be able to play some of that repertoire without strings.
Andrew Boysen, Jr.: Kirkpatrick Fanfare
Megan Withers, graduate conductor
She directed with authority and conviction a piece that reminded me of the prairie. The crisp and optimistic tone opened the second half with a sense of excitement. This is a fine composer.
Percy Grainger: Irish Tune from County Derry
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
“Oh Danny Boy” is the theme of this piece, and it is an absolutely gorgeous work of music. Warm and nostalgic, it weaves through deep brass sounds like a vast river flowing through the countryside.
Nathaniel Daughtry: Black Rainbow
Dr. Gary Schallert, Conductor
Featuring the WKU Wind Ensemble Percussionists (Dr. Mark S. Berry, Studio)
Evidently suggested by a senior percussionist — I am assuming Marisa Franklin — Dr. Schallert was wise in programming this piece. Percussion class was one of my favorite classes in college, and this work reminded me of the vast possibilities percussion brings to the table in music — not just as a keeper of the beat and rhythmic excitement, but especially because of the orchestral colors it provides as it walks us through the colors of the rainbow. This is a brilliant piece of music that I did not want to end.
Dr. Matthew Herman’s Take Hold of Heaven (2025) inspired the title of this post. It began and ended with the wispy tinkling of a triangle. The piece moves through several sections and displays wonderful contrasts, from a more “popular” theme to the ethereal use of mallets in the percussion. One listen is not enough for this piece.
This profound program should be repeated. I am a big fan of thoughtful concert programming, and when a title and subtitle are used like this, they force one to look for something deeper in the experience. The ensembles played wonderfully, and you are missing something by not attending these performances.
Musiterania exists to highlight performances that elevate communities, challenge performers, and remind audiences why live music matters. University ensembles such as these are not merely educational exercises — they are laboratories of artistic excellence and vision. When programming is intentional, and performance meets conviction, something lasting is created. Musiterania will continue to seek out and document these moments wherever they are occupied.
