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Rediscovered and Reimagined: Astor Piazzolla’s Sinfonía Buenos Aires

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A relatively obscure work in the orchestral world, Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla’s highly virtuosic wind writing in his 1951 composition, Sinfonía Buenos Aires, presented a unique opportunity to reimagine the work for the modern wind band. This session will explore the history and context of the Sinfonía Buenos Aires including the circumstances surrounding its premiere, subsequent disappearance and eventual rediscovery. This session will detail the process of obtaining and deciphering the manuscript, and the methods and techniques used to create the new version for the modern wind band. In addition, the session will explore some of the unique timbral and orchestration opportunities the project presented, with particular attention paid to the reorchestration of the solo bandoneon parts for saxophone quintet. The session will include video and audio excerpts of the world premiere performance, given by the University of Michigan Symphony Band in September 2022.

Eric Laprade

Eric Laprade is Associate Professor, Director of Bands, and Co-Chair of the Department of Music at The College of New Jersey (USA), where he conducts the wind ensemble and teaches courses in conducting, rehearsal techniques, and instrumental literature. He also serves as Managing Director, Artistic Partner, and Festival Wind Ensemble Conductor of South Shore Conservatory’s Summer Music Festival (USA). Laprade has conducted many of the nation’s premier wind bands, including The Eastman Wind Ensemble, The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” University of Michigan Symphony Band, and Manhattan School of Music Wind Ensemble. His scholarly-creative work focuses on innovative programming, reimagining the pedagogical possibilities and methods within the large-ensemble setting, and fostering new models of inter- and cross-disciplinary collaboration and creativity. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting and Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, a Master of Music in wind conducting from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Music in music education and tuba performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he was the recipient of the school’s prestigious Performer’s Certificate. His principal conducting teachers include Mark Davis Scatterday, Michael Haithcock, and Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr.