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Murray Composer on Writing "A Winter's Dawn" - Performance This Saturday

John Fannin says inspiration for "A Winter's Dawn" comes from a blend of understanding popular music and high velocity skiing. He conducts this piece of original work for Saturday's Community Band Concert in Murray. Kate Lochte gets a sneak listen with Fannin on Sounds Good and they talk about how his compositions are getting nationwide attention in the wind band repertoire.

Composer and educator John Fannin conducts his piece "A Winter's Dawn" for Saturday's Town & Gown Community Band Concert at First Baptist Church at 3:30 p.m.

Fannin wrote the piece in 2006 and says it's always fun to conduct his own works because of the learning that comes with it - hearing how the sounds come together and making tweaks and changes along the way. "A Winter's Dawn" came about as an exercise in what gets published: using popular sounds, harmonies and rhythmic timing. Many of the intense moments were inspired by his childhood memories of being a "reckless" sled rider and now in his love of skiing. The quieter moments, he says, bring him back to memories hunting with his father as a child, on one of those mornings where you can really hear your own breath amidst nature.

John Fannin is Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Music at Murray State University.

More about Murray State University Town & Gown

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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