The Fort Hays State University Symphonic Winds and Wind Ensemble performed interesting and varied programs Friday evening, successfully concluding the fall semester.

Conductor Lane Weaver and the Symphonic Winds featured several selections that reflect our nation's history. They led off with "American Riversongs" by Pierre La Plante, a medley of tunes associated with times before railroads and highways, when rivers were the most convenient means of transportation.

Student conductor Christopher M. Johnson took over for his own composition, "Battle Canyon," which was, according to the program note, "written for the Scott Community High School Band in honor of the last Indian battle in Kansas, called Battle of Squaw's Den or Punish Woman's Fork." The piece weaves authentic American military and Cheyenne melodies into a fabric that evokes the course of the battle at Turtle Creek and the failed attempt of the Cheyennes to return to their homeland. It is an impressive achievement by any standards, and a solid beginning for Johnson's career.

The winds continued the historical theme with a dignified rendition of David Holsinger's "On a Hymnsong of Robert Lowry," based on the 19th-century gospel song "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus" (program note).

The FHSU Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jeff Jordan, began and ended with fast and furious pieces that showcased the band's virtuosity. They opened with "Shortcut Home" by Dana Wilson. The title "Shortcut" is quite appropriate -- the mad dash goes through all the instruments in the band and sounds a little like the gang rumble in "West Side Story." "Velocity," another number that starts fast and accelerates from there, concluded their set. As the program note explains, it "seeks to portray the title word in all its forms."

In between, the ensemble emphasized versatility. "Celtic Hymns and Dances" by Eric Ewazen sounded like a medley of Medieval and Renaissance folk and art music, but in fact, it is all Ewazen's composition. They continued with a Christmas anthem, "O Nata Lux" ("Light Born of Light") by Guy Forbes, a choral piece that Jordan himself had transcribed. Jordan said, "I was inspired when I heard the Hays High choir sing this at the Cathedral Concert last year, so I got permission from the composer to transcribe it for band."

By the end of the concert, the wind ensemble had more than convinced the audience of their virtuosity and versatility. After a hearty round of applause, everyone, musicians and audience, went home eminently satisfied.

* The next event in the FHSU recital and concert series will be the violin recital of Matt Means, rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in Palmer Recital Hall in Malloy Hall on the FHSU campus.

Ruth Firestone is a supporter of music and theater in Hays.