It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Michael Purves-Smith, our music director emeritus and principal oboist. Michael was the soul of the Wellington Wind Symphony, and we are devastated by his loss. As Susan Follows so aptly puts it, “Michael was a connoisseur of life.” We remember Michael …
The Wellington Wind Symphony (WWS) has a unique offering for its next concert, Wind Symphony Whimsy. A new concerto by acclaimed Canadian composer and Elmira resident Michael Purves-Smith, entitled The Seven Deadly Sins for Alto Clarinet and Wind Ensemble, will be the featured work. Soloist Steve Fox will perform on a beautiful alto clarinet which …
Composer, arranger, WWS oboist and music director emeritus Michael Purves-Smith provides unique insight into his thinking as he transcribed Strauss’ Four Last Songs, to be featured on our concerts on October 23 and 30, 2016. Why Transcribe Strauss’ Four Last Songs? by Michael Purves-Smith When Jan Narveson of the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Music Society first …
Guest post by Michael Purves-Smith High Flight, by Joseph Turrin (1947 – ) http://www.curnowmusicpress.com/josephturrin.htm This challenging work was written in 2008 for the United States Air force Band, certainly a contender for the finest band in the world. It is a work that capitalizes fully on the virtuosic resources of that group, as the composer …