Austin Symphonic Band. April 23, 2023 concert at the Connally HS Performing Arts Center in Austin, TX. ASB performing Sol y sombra by Donald Grantham. Music Director Dr. Kyle R. Glaser conducting. "Texas Treasures" Concert.

Video and Sound Production: Eddie Jennings

From the program notes written by David Cross:

Sol y sombra (2014)
Donald Grantham (b. 1947)

Program note by the composer:

In Spain, tickets for the bullfight ring are sold in three categories: sol, sombra, and sol y sombra. This determines whether the ticket holder sits entirely in the sun, entirely in the shade, or sometimes in sun and sometimes in shade. It has been 25 years since I attended bullfights in Barcelona and Madrid, but, for some reason, this title occurred to me in regard to this piece. It begins and ends with a bright and crisp “sunny” character, but moves to a darker, moodier place in the middle.

Donald Grantham received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and an MM and DMA from the University of Southern California. He studied under famed French composer and pedagogue, Nadia Boulanger at the American Conservatory in France. Grantham currently teaches music composition at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music, where he is the Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Centennial Professor of Music.

Listen for:
• A subtle bi-tonality throughout
• Rich voicings in the mallet percussion
• Wondrous shading of tonal colors