Fantastico

Last night, the Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Alicante played to a packed Auditorium. The area downstairs was reserved for invited guests so we had to fight for a seat on the balcony.

It was well worth it.

As you can see, the band played a varied programme with challenging pieces in the first half followed by the lighter compositions of Francisco Grau in the second.

Francisco Grau took the baton to conduct his two new compositions and then to conclude the concert, he conducted the audience singing the Himno de Bigastro.

It would be wrong to pick out any individual instrumentalist however, the solo clarinetist who featured in the African Dances was outstanding.

So many thanks to the Ayuntamiento de Bigastro, to José Espinosa, Concejal de Cultura, to all those who took part and especially to General Francisco Grau Vegara for a wonderful evening of music.

HOMENAJE FRANCISCO GRAU

PROGRAMA

PRIMERA PARTE

- VESUVIUS (Poema Sinfónico) ........................ Frank Ticheli

- AFRICAN DANCES........................................ Kit Turnbull
(Para clarinete e instrumentos de viento y percusi6n)

Clarinete: Gumersindo Berná

-LA BRUJA (Selección) ....................................... R. Chapi

SEGUNDA PARTE

- BIGASTRO (Pasodoble) ............................ Francisco Grau

- ESTAMPAS DE MI TIERRA......................... Francisco Grau

I. Fiestas en el pueblo

II. Navidad en la Vega

III. Auroros

** CONCIERTO PARA UNA REINA.............. Francisco Grau

I. Tiempo de Partida

II. Tiempo de Nostalgia

III. Tiempo de, Ilusi6n

IV. Tiempo de Fanfarria Real

- **RECUERDO Y GRATITUD (Marcha Solemne).... Francisco Grau

(** Estreno)

Director: Jose Vicente Diaz Alcaina