CALIFORNIA WIND SYMPHONY Philip Westin Music Director and Conductor |
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In Memoriam Ingolf Dahl (11:20)
by Philip Westin California Wind Symphony Philip Westin, Conductor (Studio Recording, 1972) Commissioned by the California Wind Symphony, In Memoriam Ingolf Dahl was completed in 1972 and premiered by that organization at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center with Philip Westin conducting. Scored for large symphonic wind ensemble, the piece is an ode for Westin's friend and mentor, Ingolf Dahl. Copyright 1972 © by Philip Westin “YOU WERE INDEED VERY FORTUNATE to have Ingolf Dahl as your mentor, Philip. He was one of the most brilliant musicians I've ever known.” ~ Aaron Copland, ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Emblems (13:14)
by Aaron Copland California Wind Symphony Philip Westin, Conductor (Studio Recording, 1972) Aaron Copland wrote Emblems for band in 1964, in response to a commission by Keith Wilson, president of the College Band Directors National Association. Initially, the work received only lukewarm reception. Many have suggested that this was due, at least in part, to the work's technical challenges; however, as Copland's only piece written specifically for band, the work has since won a secure place in the repertoire. “EVERYONE AGREES that there is need for the creation of a first class wind symphony. There is every reason to believe that the California Wind Symphony, now being formed, will achieve that end.” ~ Aaron Copland, ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chester (6:08)
by William Schuman California Wind Symphony Philip Westin, Conductor (Studio Recording, 1972) Chester is from the third movement of William Schuman's New England Triptych, considered to be his most famous work. The piece makes use of one of the most patriotic melodies sung during the American Revolutionary War, William Billings' Chester. Its words express the burning desire for freedom which sustained the colonists through the difficult years of the Revolution. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Symphony No. 6, 2nd Movement (3:42)
by Vincent Persichetti California Wind Symphony Philip Westin, Conductor (Studio Recording, 1972) Vincent Persichetti wrote six symphonies. Of these, Symphony No. 6 is for symphonic band. This recording is of the 2nd movement of that work. “THIS IS INDEED A FIRST-RATE group of musicians. The Ensemble knows how to get to the heart of the composer's intent and also knows how to project this intent in a most genuine and telling way.... This group can do much for the wind segment of our literature.” ~ Vincent Persichetti, ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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The California Wind Symphony was founded by Philip Westin to provide a professional wind ensemble specializing in playing American music written specifically for symphonic band. In 1972, the Wind Symphony recorded four pieces as a demonstration: Aaron Copland's Emblems, William Schuman's Chester, Vincent Persichetti's Symphony No. 6, 2nd movement, and Westin's In Memoriam Ingolf Dahl. Those four recorded pieces are available for listening on this page (see the column to the left).
Westin then visited the homes of many of the preeminent composers of the day and played the recordings. These visits resulted in the formation of a distinguished Board of Advisors for the Wind Symphony, including the following (partial listing): Elmer Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Norman Dello Joio, Lukas Foss, John Green, Karl Husa, Bronislaw Kaper, Howard Hanson, Roy Harris, Alan Hovhaness, Henry Mancin, Peter Mennin, Ron Nelson, Roger Nixon, Vincent Persichetti, Walter Piston, Lalo Schifrin, Gunther Schuller, William Schuman, Roger Sessions, Halsey Stevens, Virgil Thomson, and John Williams.
As a direct result of the Board of Advisors’ influence, the Wind Symphony became the recipient of a major grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, and continued to flourish for several years, performing concerts in the greater Los Angeles area, including a concert at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angelels Music Center. At that concert, William Schuman's Credendum, orchestrated by Westin for the Wind Symphony at Schuman's request was premiered, with Schuman and his wife in attendance.
“I WAS VERY MUCH IMPRESSED by the high quality of performance exhibited in the performance tapes which I was privileged to hear. With the rapid expansion of the contemporary literature for woodwind, brass and percussion ensembles it seems to me that there is a need for a thoroughly professional ensemble such as yours to perform and to record this important music.”
~ Howard Hanson,
in a letter to Westin,
December 6, 1972
“THE AMATEUR WORLD OF THE BAND needs professional dimension and the California Wind Symphony seems quite capable of providing such a dimension. Your own composition, In Memoriam Ingolf Dahl, displays a fine sensitivity to wind and percussion instruments and to the large wind ensemble. Also, you have obvious gifts as a conductor. So, the leadership of this venture would seem to be in good hands.”
~ Roger Nixon,
in a letter to Westin,
September 23, 1972
“AS YOU KNOW, I have had a keen interest in wind ensemble and stage band music in the past, and will be happy if I can be of any assistance whatever in promoting the cause of this Ensemble.”
~ John Williams,
in a letter to Westin,
August 20, 1973
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“IT WAS A GREAT PLEASURE for me to see ... you in my Vermont home and to hear the tape. I must say I have never heard such superb wind ensemble playing and it is clear to me that there is an important field here which will be opened up by this enormous technical and artistic development.”
~ Walter Piston,
in a letter to Westin,
September 15, 1972
“THE TAPES THAT I HEARD justify and should generate the most lavish support from music lovers in our community. There is no question that the excellence of the orchestra, its concept and its sound are unique indeed.”
~ Elmer Bernstein,
in a letter to Westin,
July 19, 1973
“I WAS IMPRESSED, to say the least, with your Wind Ensemble. I would consider it a privilege to be a member of your Board of Advisors.”
~ Henry Mancini,
in a letter to Westin,
November 6, 1972
“IN MY OPINION, THE California Wind Symphony will set standards of excellence in performance and programming in the wind field in much the same way that our first-rate orchestras do in the symphonic field. Nothing of this sort now exists and, on the basis of your tapes, I know that: 1) you have the musicians to form the finest wind group in the world and 2) you personally as conductor-composer are the musician to direct it. As you can see, I view the birth of the California Wind Symphony with more than a touch of enthusiasm!.”
~ Ron Nelson,
in a letter to Westin,
September 14, 1972