VBO Markgräflerland enters the "Ghost Ship"

The Markgräflerland Wind Orchestra warmly invites you to a concert on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 5 PM in the Malteserhalle in Heitersheim. This year, Niklas Maier will be at the conductor's podium. As the first clarinetist, he knows the orchestra very well and has put together an exciting and varied program. The concert will open with "Sea Songs." Ralph V. Williams has incorporated three well-known English sea shanties in this work: Princess Royal, Admiral Benbow, and Portsmouth. "The Ghost Ship" (by Jose Alberto Pina) is based on the story of the old shipwreck of the SS American Star. The ship was struck by a severe storm in the Atlantic Ocean and was subsequently towed. However, the tugboat inexplicably cut the ropes, and the American Star drifted away. After several days, it eventually reappeared on the beach of Garcey in Fuerteventura, broken into two parts. There, it became the perfect backdrop for mysterious events. This composition, full of energy, mystery, and intensity, takes us through the cabins of the famous ghost ship. "The Zest," in five and a half minutes, takes the listener on an auditory journey through a vast, awe-inspiring landscape full of adventure, reminiscent of the worlds imagined by J.R.R. Tolkien. "Variations on America" by Charles Ives has long been a true standard work in the repertoire for wind orchestras. Since it has served as the theme music for the American CBS series "The American Parade," it has gained enormous popularity. With "T-Bone Concerto" by Johan de Meij, two young trombonists will take the stage. "T-Bone Concerto" consists of three movements: Rare, Medium, and Well Done, although we will only perform the first movement (Rare). A challenging concert from the master of timbres! "Paconchita" by Oscar Navarro opens with a grand brass fanfare and transitions into a much more rhythmic section, where a give-and-take begins between the various sections of the orchestra, with the percussion being one of the main instruments at all times. Throughout the piece, we hear Latin American rhythms that merge with harmonies typical of Spanish folklore, creating a signature of our country, the land where the protagonists were born and raised, and to whom this work is dedicated: Paquito and Conchita. The program concludes with "Udo Jürgens Das Beste!" an arrangement by Guido Rennert, hopefully leaving the audience with many catchy tunes. Special thanks go to the Heitersheim Music Association, which not only provides its rehearsal space for the rehearsal weekends but also takes care of the concert's hospitality. Tickets are available in advance from all musicians and at Musik Gillhaus. Look forward to an interesting and varied program; we are excited about your numerous attendance.