Here’s a quick tip to my neighbors in Connecticut: Summer concert season is upon us, and there’s a good one coming up this weekend at the Leroy Anderson House in Woodbury.
The Candlewood Brass Quintet will perform a concert of classical and popular compositions for brass quintet at 3 p.m. this Sunday, May 21. The concert was rescheduled because of rain expected Saturday. Admission is free but space is limited; reserve your spot by email to leroyandersonfoundation@gmail.com. Bring your own seating for the lawn.
The concert will feature the world premiere of an arrangement of the composer’s “Summer Skies” for brass quintet. Anderson wrote the orchestral “Summer Skies” 70 years ago in Woodbury while his new modern home was being built. You can hear a 1953 recording of the original work here.
Thomas Hundemer, principal horn of the Shreveport Symphony and other regional orchestras, wrote the new arrangement. He is director of the Hurley Music Library and Lecturer in Horn at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and at Bossier Parish Community College. He holds a bachelor of science degree in composition from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master of arts degree in horn performance from the University of Iowa.
In addition to the full orchestral version, Anderson also arranged “Summer Skies” for piano. Hundemer’s arrangements for brass quintet and woodwind quintet are the first new versions since the composer’s death in 1975.
The concert will be in memory of the composer’s wife, Eleanor Anderson, who was born on May 21, 1918. It was her vision to have the house become a historic house museum and to host concerts.
So if you have the chance, spend a summer afternoon in a quiet, shaded setting to enjoy an outdoor concert and hear something new. We’ll see you there!
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