Magic is a thing that most kids firmly believe in and most adults are adamant is nonexistent. It dwells in all corners of the imagination and often is the spark of creativity and wonder. This Dec., the CSU Symphonic Band hopes to bring some of this magic to real life in its concert entitled Incantations: Nothing Gold Can Stay.

According to Dr. Richard Frey, associate director of bands at CSU, each of the pieces in the repertoire “casts a special spell on the musicians and the audience, each telling a unique tale.”

Putting together such a spellbinding performance has not been the easiest of feats for the Symphonic Band director. First, he must find one or two pieces to “anchor” the concert – in other words, pieces that can act as a center point on which the rest of the concert can expand. Frey admits that anchors are typically “standard band repertoire,” but occasionally a new piece manages to slip its way in.

From there, he begins to explore connections between pieces. These can be anything, from shared cultural or geographic connections to pieces sharing similar themes. Finally, Frey narrows his collection of potential pieces to a final list by weighing the educational and musical value of each work.

An exciting piece featured in the Dec. concert is Nothing Gold Can Stay by Steven Bryant, which just premiered in Sept. of this year. This means that the CSU Symphonic Band will be among the first in the world to perform this stunning piece, based on the poem by Robert Frost of the same name.