Veni Emmanuel
Comments
Jonathan Willis, conductor [bio] When we introduced Ayers’ Veni Emmanuel to our students here at Mount Union College they were treated to a challenge, and they were thrilled to have the opportunity to perform a work of this caliber. The scoring is immaculate, imaginative, and allows the band to explore ensemble playing that is similar to that of the orchestra. The percussion writing is wonderful, with truly effective timpani and mallet scoring, and a wonderful harp part. Add to this the synthesizer bass part, the first-rate woodwind scoring, and the powerful brass, and you have a winner! This is the most beautiful version of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” out there today. A very good high school band could perform Veni, and the challenge for those students would be well worth the effort, but the work is best suited for the collegiate band. Veni Emmanuel is a marvelous work that I highly recommend for any Christmas concert. |
We at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy appreciated your efforts in helping us prepare your composition Veni Emmanuel for our Christmas concert. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for the experience! It clearly set the stage for the rest of our concert. Numbers of parents have commented positively, some saying it was the highlight of the evening. The collaboration with you as composer was very helpful. I hope something like this will be possible again.
—Donald E. Bechtel, Director of Bands
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
I play bass clarinet in the Mount Union College band, and I actually talked to you on Wednesday about your piece that you have composed, Veni Emmanuel, and how it was AMAZING! I am infatuated with that song. I think it is a brilliant piece and I would really enjoy listening to it with the choir involved as well as the wind ensemble.
—Lauren M. Klaas, student musician
Mount Union College
This page last updated on 07/27/07