Illinois Wesleyan University Symphonic Winds Double Compact Disc Set 30 Year Compendium - Retirement CD

Roger Garrett taught at Illinois Wesleyan University for 32 years. During that time, he took a 19 piece Concert Band that served as the second band in the program and fed into the Wind Ensemble, and he developed it into, at one point, a 96 member Concert Band. Eventually that band was reduced to a 48-60 member, fully auditioned (or participation by consent of instructor) ensemble suitably renamed, the Symphonic Winds. In the fall of 2017, Professor Garrett entered into the phased retirement program at IWU with the plan to retire after the spring 2020 semester. Rather than try to put on a performance of all his favorite pieces during his final year, he decided to create a set of recordings that presented the best representation of Professor Garrett’s work with the Symphonic Winds Ensemble. In 2019, Professor Garrett was awarded an Artistic/Scholarly Development Grant by the university, and, with the additional support funds provided for the project by Interim Director Vickie Folse (Director, School of Nursing) and Karen Schmitt (Library), all artwork, mastering, and mechanical license fees were paid and allowed this set of recordings to became possible.

The performances on this double compact disc set comprise 158 minutes of music, culled from performances between 1989 and 2016. While many of the performances from the earlier years were outstanding, the recording quality of the last 17 years was done with advanced digital equipment and high quality microphones. Selecting 158 minutes of music for the CD set was an enormous undertaking. 17 years of concerts – nearly 70 concerts – had to be collected, transferred to computer, equalized, reverb and equalization adjusted, eliminating of applause, and matching volumes of each performance. Because concerts took place in three different venues, adjustments had to be made to create a similar sound. “Test CDs were sent to various music educators, former students, current students, and band conducting colleagues for feedback on the final selections of works to make the cut. The results are on these two compact discs - packaged in a double CD jewel case with a 24 page color booklet that includes extensive program notes for each work as well as commentary from Professor Garrett. Included is also a historical perspective of the band program at IWU with pictures dating back to the 1940s. In the end, each work on these compact discs was taken from a live, concert performance; there was no recording session used for any of the works presented. There are performance errors, but such is the way with live recordings. A supplemental CD can be included for an additional cost.