The Penn State Concert and Campus Bands will perform their end-of-semester concert tonight in Eisenhower Auditorium. The Campus Band will begin at 7 p.m. followed by the Concert Band at 8:30 p.m.

The Campus Band will perform five pieces directed by graduate students Erik Jester and Matthew Stombaugh. "I think it's all very good music," Stombaugh said.

The band will open with W. Francis McBeth's "Chant and Jubilo," a piece Jester said is self-explanatory.

"It's a two-part piece. The first part is very static, then its 'jubilo' -- much more energized and joyful," Jester said.

Along with three other pieces, the band will also perform "Simple Gifts" by Frank Ticheli, a very respected composer for bands, Jester said.

"He produces challenging music for bands, from middle school to college," he said. "I think it's good music that they can play very well."

The Concert Band, directed by Dr. O. Richard Bundy, will open its portion of the concert with "Fortress," also by Ticheli.

Bundy said the piece's themes create strong feelings. "There are parts of it that are very powerful that make you feel secure and safe," he said.

The Concert Band will perform six pieces, including three based on different English folk songs, including the "Giles Farnaby Suite" by Gordon Jacob and "Three Ayres from Gloucester" by Hugh M. Stuart. "It's old music, but it's cool-sounding. Everything old is new again," Bundy said.