Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)

Festive Overture Op 96

transcribed for wind orchestra by Donald Hunsberger

Composed in 1954 for a celebratory concert in Moscow, Shostakovich’s Festive Overture is a brilliant display of energy, colour and theatrical flair. Opening with a bold fanfare, the music rushes forward with bustling rhythms, sweeping melodies and sparkling orchestration. Although Shostakovich is often associated with darker, more ironic works, this overture is refreshingly direct and joyful in spirit. In its wind orchestra guise, the music’s exuberance is heightened by blazing brass, agile woodwind writing and vibrant percussion, making it a thrilling and festive concert opener.

Paul Creston (1906–1985)

Legend Op 31

Composed in 1942, Legend is one of Paul Creston’s most enduring works for wind ensemble. Despite its evocative title, the composer made clear that the piece is not based on a specific story, but instead explores music’s power to suggest narrative. Cast in a broadly lyrical and dramatic style, the work unfolds with a strong sense of momentum, driven by Creston’s characteristic rhythmic vitality and rich, neo‑Romantic harmonic language. Sweeping melodic lines, bold brass writing and moments of reflective calm combine to create a work that invites each listener to imagine their own ‘legend’ as the music unfolds.

Frigyes Hidas (1928–2007)

Suite for Wind Orchestra

Hungarian composer Frigyes Hidas is widely admired for his significant contribution to the wind orchestra repertoire, writing music that is immediate, melodically engaging and superbly crafted for the medium. His Suite for Wind Orchestra exemplifies these qualities, combining rhythmic vitality with lyrical warmth and bright, transparent textures. Rooted in a broadly tonal language, the music draws on dance‑like energy and elegant contrasts between sections, allowing individual instruments and choirs to shine. Throughout the work, Hidas balances clarity and accessibility with sophisticated orchestration, creating a piece that is both enjoyable for audiences and rewarding for performers.

Erika Svanoe (b. 1979)

Steampunk Suite

Steampunk Suite is a vivid, four‑movement work inspired by the steampunk genre – a style of speculative fiction rooted in a neo‑Victorian world where steam‑powered technology and retro‑futuristic invention dominate. The music imagines an alternative 19th‑century landscape populated by colourful historical figures such as Marie Curie, Jules Verne and Nikola Tesla, brought to life through a series of playful, cinematic scenes. Drawing on popular dance styles of the era, including marches and waltzes, alongside the whirr and clatter of imagined machinery, Svanoe combines stylistic pastiche with contemporary wind orchestra writing. The result is a richly imaginative score full of wit, energy and inventive colour.