U.S. Marine Band to premiere W&M professor's work
The U.S. Marine Band will premiere a new work by William & Mary’s director of bands in Washington D.C. this week.
Assistant Professor of Music Paul K. Bhasin’s “Tango Suite” will be performed by “The President’s Own” band on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. in the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex. The concert is free and open to the public.
The piece is based on three tango compositions -- "Fugata," "Milonga del Angel," and "Libertango" -- by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla.
"The U.S. Marine Band is the finest professional wind ensemble in the country,” said Bhasin, who is new to William & Mary this semester. “I feel especially honored that they will be performing my Piazzolla adaptation.”
Although Piazzolla wrote for an ensemble that included violin, bass piano, electric guitar and bandoneon, Bhasin’s version was written for brass instruments, he said.
“Since none of Piazzolla's music was originally written for winds, this Marine Band performance will raise the profile of his music among wind ensembles and hopefully lead to further adaptation projects," Bhasin said.
The William & Mary Wind Symphony is planning a performance of “Tango Suite” for 2012.
