On Bands and Choirs

Last night the ASU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Chorale combined for a concert. It was an enjoyable program with a much larger audience than seen at the average ASU band concert. The Brahms and Mahler works were particularly effective, it is a nice combination of ensembles.

This concert reminded me of a tour that was taken by the combined forces of the Wind Ensemble and A Cappella Choir at my undergrad school, Emporia State University, in the early 1980s. I still remember the works the choir sang as their features (selections from the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes and also the Liebeslieder Polkas of PDQ Bach), and I am sure it was a good show with a lot of variety.

I was recently asked about how much band had influenced me as a player. I have performed many, many band concerts! Especially as an undergrad in Emporia and also as a grad student at Eastman I grew a great deal as a musician playing in bands. There is something to be said for having a regular seat in the band, your folder that you are responsible for, working out the intonation and balances, and giving a series of good concerts over the course of a semester.

On choirs, I did not sing much in choirs as a student (some church choir singing), but this type of activity can also be a big plus for horn players. My students who have done a lot of choral work certainly have developed their ears because of it.

Back to the concert I just heard, I hope that ASU does more of these, it was a crowd pleasing event with good literature to play and hear, an important element of building audiences. A final note would be that my son enjoyed it too. He is handicapped and 14 (Down syndrome) and loves a good concert; this one passed “the James test.”