What do the classic TV series, “Doctor Who” and pop band Coldplay have in common? Their scores are both included in an evening of performances by Trinity Western University’s concert band and orchestra. Tunes inspired by TV’s most-famous time traveler and from the band behind the hit, “Clocks” feature in the evening’s program, whose theme fittingly centres on “time.”
The program is the brain child of TWU Associate Professor of Music and concert band conductor, Allan Thorpe, DMA, and his colleague and TWU orchestra conductor, Jon Thompson, also TWU Chair and Assistant Professor of SAMC Music.
“Time is represented in our lives in many ways,” explains Thorpe. “Clocks and schedules tell us when to be where, the seasons shift gradually on a larger scale—we can even sometimes become unaware of time passing when we become deeply involved in something we love doing.
“The initial inspiration for our theme was Haydn’s ‘Clock Symphony,’” he adds, “but it quickly expanded in many directions to include pieces that represent time’s various facets and dimensions.”
Sci-Fi fans will be delighted by a medley of “Doctor Who” tunes. Featuring the familiar and haunting strains of the theremin (precursor to the Moog synthesizer), reproduced on iPad for this performance, the pieces should easily conjure up images of The Doctor and his fellow time travelers, as well as their Dalek and Cybermen nemeses.
A further jaunt through the program’s space/time continuum lands the audience at a trio of Coldplay hits—featuring “Clocks,” “Lost,” and “Viva La Vida!”—pieces sure to thrill contemporary music fans. Expanding the theme to include the idea of “Once upon a time,” Thorpe and Thompson also include music from Hansel and Gretel as well as “The Isle of Calypso,” a single movement from a larger work depicting the travels of Homer’s Odysseus. Rounding out a repertoire designed to appeal to a diverse audience are Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” as well as themes from Back to the Future and E.T.
Time After Time: TWU Concert Band + Orchestra takes place Friday, April 7 at 7:30 pm at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 20097 72nd Avenue, Langley and Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 2029 Ware Street, Abbotsford. Tickets are $10 each. Info at twu.ca/samc. This event is part of the 8th Annual Festival of the Arts, Media + Culture (FAMC).
This performance of Time After Time: TWU Concert Band + Orchestra is made possible through the support of Long & McQuade and Flying Horse Design Studio.
Trinity Western University is a Christian University of the arts, sciences, and professions, legislated by British Columbia to serve the public. Recognized for quality, TWU is consistently ranked among the top two universities in Canada for Educational Experience by the National Survey of Student Engagement; holds three Canada Research Chairs; wins National Championships in U Sports sports; and emphasizes experiential learning to prepare graduates to make a global impact. TWU offers 43 bachelor’s degrees, 19 graduate degrees, and adult degree-completion programs. A vibrant community committed to educating the whole person, TWU has been developing leaders of character and competence for 50 years.