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Faculty from Western performed "The Devil's Tale" (sequel to Stravinsky's "L'histoire du Soldat") on March 1 at the College Band Directors National Association North Central Regional Conference at Ball State University. Pictured, from left, are Matt Bean, (narrator), Eric Ginsberg (clarinet), Sally Stephenson of Chicago (violin), Douglass Huff (bassoon), Mike Fansler (conductor), Bruce Briney (cornet), Rick Kurasz (percussion), John Mindeman (trombone), Matthew Hughes (string bass), and Jim Stephenson (composer).
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WIU Faculty Artists Receive International Recognition for 'The Devil's Tale' Performances

March 4, 2014

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MACOMB, IL - A Western Illinois University faculty chamber group was featured at the 2014 College Band Directors National Association North Central Divisional Conference in Muncie, IN, March 1. The concert was the latest in a series of national and international events showcasing the WIU music faculty in an interpretation of composer Jim Stephenson's "The Devil's Tale."

Under the direction of conductor Mike Fansler, musicians Bruce Briney (cornet), Eric Ginsberg (clarinet), Douglass Huff (bassoon), John Mindeman (trombone), Rick Kurasz (percussion), Matthew Hughes (string bass) and Matt Bean (narrator), joined Sally Stephenson, of Chicago (violin) in delivering their third performance of the sequel to Igor Stravinsky's "L'histoire du Soldat."

The WIU School of Music was the lead commissioner of a consortium to develop the sequel, for which the composer used exact instrumentation from Stravinksy's original work.

WIU faculty have been engaged in the project for more than one year, delivering the world premiere in Naperville, IL, in May 2013, and a second performance at the International Trumpet Guild in Grand Rapids, MI, in June 2013.

The artists spent two days in a recording studio with the composer and are currently finalizing the official studio recording of the piece, to be released this fall.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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