The repertoire of the Wind Ensemble’s March 11 performance focuses on the tectonic shifting of American society from the 1930s to the 1950s and its resonance among the Silent Generation. Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 opens the program, followed by Victoria Bond’s The Indispensable Man. Both Tower and Bond are members of the Silent Generation and uncommon women in their own right, and these two compositions point obliquely and directly (respectively) to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Felicia Sandler, a Baby Boomer, considers the complexities of the World War II era in Rosie the Riveter. Sandler’s imagery ranges from the iconic Rosie of propaganda posters to the challenges of the real women faced with reimagining themselves, their potential, and their role in society. Finally, Jonathan Newman (Generation X) blends inspiration from Beat poetry and bebop to evoke nuanced imagery of the immediate post-war era in his Symphony No. 1: My Hands Are a City.

The Wind Ensemble is the university’s premier concert band. Its select mission is to provide instrumentalists of advanced technical proficiency a pre-professional ensemble experience. With an emphasis on contemporary American compositions, the Wind Ensemble’s repertoire reflects the most recent technical and textural innovations, as well as the rich tradition of wind and percussion music extending back to the Renaissance.

Tickets: Adults $5; Students/Seniors $3

This performance will also be live webcast. Visit music.unl.edu the night of the performance.

Program: https://unl.box.com/s/i3k6k7wxmr2d076ewq6ve7e8qkf6dxkr