Angels and Demons

Celebrate Halloween with some hauntingly good music performed by the Butler Wind Ensemble

Kenneth Hesketh Masque
Bernard Herrmann (Trans. Bulla) Suite from “The Devil and Daniel Webster”
Eric Whitacre Godzilla Eats Las Vegas
Frank Ticheli Angels in the Architecture
Camille Saint-Saens (Trans. Hindsley) Danse Macabre (featuring Davis Brooks, violin)
Malcolm Arnold (Trans. Paynter) Tam O’Shanter Overture

The program will open with a work entitled “Masque,” by the British composer Kenneth Hesketh. This rousing overture is inspired by a medieval masque, in which disguised revelers would storm into a festive hall to enjoy an evening of dancing and gambling. The next selection is a setting of music from Bernard Herrmann’s film score “The Devil and Daniel Webster.” This 1941 movie is based on the classic story by Stephen Vincent Benet, in which a down-on-his-luck New England farmer makes a deal with the Devil in exchange for seven years of good luck. When the Devil tries to collect, the farmer turns to famed orator Daniel Webster for a defense. Herrmann’s imaginative score netted the movie its only Oscar award for best film score. This film music is followed by an imaginary movie score by the American composer Eric Whitacre. The plot of his nonexistent film is evident in its title: "Godzilla Eats Las Vegas,” and the music is every bit as irreverent and humorous as the title suggests. The second half of the program takes a more serious turn with Frank Ticheli’s “Angels in the Architecture,” which portrays the classic battle between the forces of dark and light. The next work on the program, French composer Camille Saint-Saens’ classic Danse Macabre, features violin soloist and Butler faculty member Dr. Davis Brooks. The program will conclude with a charming work by British composer Malcolm Arnold, “Tam O’Shanter.” This miniature tone poem is based on the epic tale by Robert Burns, which recounts a particularly memorable evening for the title character. After a particularly vigorous night of drinking and carousing, Tam decides to ride his mare Maggie home through the forest in spite of some foul weather. In the woods he stumbles across a coven of witches engaged in a ritualistic dance. When they discover that Tam is watching, they chase him through the woods, and Tam survives only because of the speed of his beloved Maggie, who loses her tail in their narrow escape.