WINONA LAKE — The Grace College Community Wind Ensemble under the direction of Martin Becker will present their spring concert “Sacred Sounds of Praise” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, in the Winona Heritage Room, 901 Park Avenue. The program will feature music of a sacred genre, in keeping with Easter.

The concert will begin with the famous American Hymn “God of Our Fathers” arranged by Thomas Knox. This famous American Christian hymn was written in 1876 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. It has stood the test of time as evident by the fact that President Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration in 1981 included the new arrangement by Knox.

The second selection is a new arrangement for band written by Anthony LaBounty titled “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” It is a timeless hymn from British songwriter and Christian worship leader Stuart Townsend, written just before the end of the 20th Century. The tune is melodious and alluring; equal to the text bountiful in poetic language illuminating the scriptural epitome of the ultimate love of a father.

Next on the program will be the very challenging work written by David Holsinger titled “Abram’s Pursuit.” The music vividly portrays the fourteenth chapter of Genesis, the story of a rebellion, led by Chedorlaomer, King of Elam.

Finishing the first half of the concert, Becker has chosen a piece written originally for Brass Band, but has become a popular addition to both Orchestral and Concert Band. In 1927 Gustav Holst was commissioned to write a piece for the BBC and the National Brass Band Competition. The result was “The Moorside Suite.” The band will be performing the third movement of the Suite titled “Moorside March.”

Following a brief intermission the band will perform “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” a Christian hymn written by the 18th Century pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson. He penned the words at age 22 in the year 1757. This arrangement is titled “Songs of Praise.”

Becker turned to poetry and nature for the next composition, “The Seal Lullaby,” written originally for choir by Eric Whitacre. The composer’s inspiration for this piece came from a Disney film based on Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The White Seal.”

In what has become tradition, the Grace Wind Ensemble likes to include some Jazz or Dixieland in concerts. The audience won’t be disappointed because next on the program is a Canadian Brass arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee.” This arrangement is reminiscent of a New Orleans funeral procession which starts out solemn and finishes in a celebration.

The evening program concludes with a favorite of conductor Martin Becker: The powerful work by Richard Wagner, “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral.” This German romantic opera premiered in 1850 for the imminent betrothal of heroine Elsa to Lohengrin, mystic Knight of the Holy Grail.

The audience is encouraged to arrive early to get a good seat. The fall concert attracted over 500 attendees.  Admission is free but an offering opportunity will be available at intermission.