Donald Hunsberger
Biography
Donald Hunsberger (b. 2 August 1932, Souderton, Penn. - 5 November 2023, Rochester, N.Y.) was the conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble from 1965 until 2001. He also held the position of professor of conducting at the Eastman School of Music. Generally regarded as a key contributor to the rise of the modern wind ensemble in the twentieth century, Hunsberger's notable contributions include conducting, recording, and arranging music for winds.
During his tenure with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Hunsberger conducted many recordings, including some with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Through his work as a conductor, author, and recording artist, Hunsberger helped further the principles of the wind ensemble concept, including "specified instrumentation, orchestral concept of performance, single performer approach [and] development of individual tone colors." From 1985-87, Hunsberger served as the president of the College Band Directors National Association.
Hunsberger also arranged transcriptions of orchestral music for concert band. Among these include: Shostakovich's Festive Overture; Kabalevsky's Colas Breugnon Overture, Grafulla's Echoes of the 1860's, Khachaturian's Ballet Suite from Spartacus, and John Williams' Star Wars Trilogy. Hunsberger is also the editor for the Remington Warm Up Series. Hunsberger co-authored a book with Roy Ernst called The Art of Conducting, wrote a newsletter for MCA Music on Wind Ensemble Music, and many other articles. In 1994 he co-edited a book with Frank J. Cipolla called The Wind Ensemble and Its Repertoire: Essays on the Fortieth Anniversary of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. In later years, Hunsberger rescored music for silent films, and conducted performances with major symphony orchestras. Hunsberger was conductor emeritus of the Eastman Wind Ensemble.
Works for Winds
- Almighty Father (as arranger) (1971/1974)
- Catfish Row (as arranger) (1934/2000)
- Dancin' into the 20's (as arranger) (1999)
- The Duke of Marlborough Fanfare (as editor) (1939/2000)
- Fantaisie brilliante (as arranger) (1861/1987?/2011)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 (as arranger) (1723?/1997)
- Fantasia on Lady of Spain (as arranger) (1931/1960)
- Festive Overture (as arranger) (1954/1965)
- Folk Festival (as arranger) (1955/1971)
- Galop (as transcriber) (1959/1971)
- Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (as editor) (1900/1983)
- Hommage à Rameau (as transcriber) (1905/2009)
- Jack Tar (as arranger) (1903/)
- A Jazz Suite (as arranger) (1961)
- La Bamba de Vera Cruz (as arranger) (1960)
- La Vallée des Cloches (as arranger) (1905/1981)
- The Marines' Hymn (as arranger; adapt. Patterson)
- Meditation No. 2 (as arrangerr) (1971/1973)
- Moto Perpetuo (as arranger) (c.1835/1985)
- Napoli (as arranger) (1934/1990/2011)
- Overture to "Colas Breugnon" (as transcriber) (1937/2003)
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (as transcriber) (1703-1713/1968/1975)
- Prelude and Fugue in E-flat (as transcriber) (c. 1739/2009)
- Quiet City (as arranger) (1941/1992)
- Rhapsody in Blue (as arranger) (1924/1998)
- Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child (as transcriber) (1985)
- Sonata for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble (as arranger) (1956/1986/1998)
- Star Wars Trilogy (as arranger) (1977/1997)
- Three Dance Episodes from "Spartacus" (as arranger) (1954/1969)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (as transcriber) (1705/1998)
- Two Irish Folk Melodies (as arranger) (1986/2017)
- Variations for Wind Band (as arranger) (1957/1988/1997)
- Vocalise, Opus 34, No. 14 (as arranger) (1909/2004)