Just a reminder about the Halloween concert presented by the Wauwatosa Community Band this Saturday November 1st at 1 PM at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa, at 76th and North Avenue.
This week's post describes a few more pieces to be performed by the Knightwind Ensemble at their Pastiche concert on November 23rd. For ticket info, see the web site: http://www.knightwind.org/.
On the program is Edward Gregson's Partita, written around 1970. This music is somber as the thread throughout the work is the Dies Irae from the Requiem Mass. Hammer-like chords begin and end the first movement with a more lyrical modal tune in between. In the second movement, the Dies Irae is the bases for an extended melody and five variations.
Also on the program is the James Spinazzola transcription of John Adams' Lollapalooza. Now I have to admit that my familiarity with the name Lollapalooza extends only to heavy metal concerts. However, John Adams wrote this interesting and very difficult piece as a 40th birthday present for Simon Rattle, the music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony. The theme is the rhythm of the word itself: lollapalooza, da-da-da-DAH-da. But there are also other motives and they all appear, disappear, and chain together. It is a very interesting piece and the group is working hard at rehearsals to keep all the motives together. This is one of those pieces where some people will like it, some people won't, and many people won't be sure! So come have a listen and judge for yourself.
Finally on the program is a band arrangement by Mark Hindley of the Ravel orchestration of Moussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition. The transcription is very true to the orchestration and the music is wonderful. Not much more to say about this piece. The sound is magnificent!
Again, for more information or to order tickets, see the web site: www.knightwind.org/.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A Halloween Concert
I usually post on Sunday mornings, but this weekend is messy. So, here's to an early posting.
Mark your calendars for Saturday November 1 for an afternoon of Halloween music, fun, and surprises with the Wauwatosa Community Band. The concert begins at 1 PM and admission is free if you are in costume (only $2 without a costume).
No Halloween concert would be complete without Moussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain. But the little ones will also enjoy Scooby Doo, Where Are You? and Rats Bats and Spiders. And a piece by P.D.Q. Back entitled March of the Cute Little Wood Sprites will not be what you think. But then again, none of the music of P.D.Q. Bach is what anyone would think!
Great fun for Halloween, and practical too! After all, the little goblins will get to wear their costumes twice, once for Trick or Treat and again to the concert. And the concert does not interfere with Trick or Treat (a very important point, especially for the costumed crowd)!
Everyone will have fun. There will be prizes for the best costumes, and treats will be served. All in all, no better way to spend an afternoon.
It all begins at 1 PM at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa, at the corner of 76th and North Avenue. Don't miss it!
Mark your calendars for Saturday November 1 for an afternoon of Halloween music, fun, and surprises with the Wauwatosa Community Band. The concert begins at 1 PM and admission is free if you are in costume (only $2 without a costume).
No Halloween concert would be complete without Moussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain. But the little ones will also enjoy Scooby Doo, Where Are You? and Rats Bats and Spiders. And a piece by P.D.Q. Back entitled March of the Cute Little Wood Sprites will not be what you think. But then again, none of the music of P.D.Q. Bach is what anyone would think!
Great fun for Halloween, and practical too! After all, the little goblins will get to wear their costumes twice, once for Trick or Treat and again to the concert. And the concert does not interfere with Trick or Treat (a very important point, especially for the costumed crowd)!
Everyone will have fun. There will be prizes for the best costumes, and treats will be served. All in all, no better way to spend an afternoon.
It all begins at 1 PM at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa, at the corner of 76th and North Avenue. Don't miss it!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A concert in Racine this Thursday
The Racine Concert Band is performing this Thursday evening at Horlick High School with the Horlick High School Band at 7 PM. On the program are Four Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Walter Hartley's Sinfonia No. 4, and Tears by David Maslanka. For the finale, members of the High School Band will sit in with the Racine Concert Band for a rousing Karl King march.
Just one comment for this upcoming concert. The big season of performances for the Racine Concert Band are the performances during the summer at the Racine Zoo. But during the school year, these musicians play at the Racine High Schools, and with the High School bands. It is a nice touch which gives the school musicians a taste of what performing is like after high school. A great tool to keep someone playing their horn in college! If you have Thursday evening open, I suggest you take in the concert.
On another subject, let me congratulate the members of the orchestra, and all of the cast at the Modjeska Youth Theater. Their performance of West Side Story was very good (I saw it on Friday evening). Here is a group that needs our support. The members of the Theater Group come from schools all over the Milwaukee area and must maintain a B average or better to continue. The performance I saw was very high quality - an excellent show. The orchestra was made up of members of a number of community music groups and their performance was equally as good. The Theater group has decided not to mount a production for the Christmas Season, but concentrate on fund raising instead. They are very short on cash and need to stabilize the finances before moving forward. Their production of Willy Wonka will be moved to the spring. Here is an excellent group doing wonderful things for our community, and they get very little publicity. Please consider supporting them...they do very good work.
Next week, a post on a special Halloween concert by the Wauwatosa Community Band.
Just one comment for this upcoming concert. The big season of performances for the Racine Concert Band are the performances during the summer at the Racine Zoo. But during the school year, these musicians play at the Racine High Schools, and with the High School bands. It is a nice touch which gives the school musicians a taste of what performing is like after high school. A great tool to keep someone playing their horn in college! If you have Thursday evening open, I suggest you take in the concert.
On another subject, let me congratulate the members of the orchestra, and all of the cast at the Modjeska Youth Theater. Their performance of West Side Story was very good (I saw it on Friday evening). Here is a group that needs our support. The members of the Theater Group come from schools all over the Milwaukee area and must maintain a B average or better to continue. The performance I saw was very high quality - an excellent show. The orchestra was made up of members of a number of community music groups and their performance was equally as good. The Theater group has decided not to mount a production for the Christmas Season, but concentrate on fund raising instead. They are very short on cash and need to stabilize the finances before moving forward. Their production of Willy Wonka will be moved to the spring. Here is an excellent group doing wonderful things for our community, and they get very little publicity. Please consider supporting them...they do very good work.
Next week, a post on a special Halloween concert by the Wauwatosa Community Band.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Concert Preview
Before I get to the first concert preview of the season, just a reminder. One weekend of performances is in the books for the Modjeska Youth Theater's production of West Side Story. But you still have one more weekend of performances. Don't miss the show, it's a good one. As an aside, a number of different community music groups are represented by the members of the pit orchestra: Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, Wauwatosa Community Band, and the Knightwind Ensemble. Here's another example of community musicians improving the lifestyle in the area. And don't forget the good work that the Modjeska Youth Theater Company does. Kids can be a part of the performances ONLY if they have a B or better average in school. Definitely a group worth supporting! And the shows very good!
Also for those of you in the Sheboygan area, the Milwaukee Festival Brass performs next week Sunday the 11th at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Here's a link to an article about that upcoming concert from the Sheboygan Press: http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/SHE04/809210447
And onto the first concert preview of the season. Many of you know that I volunteer for the Knightwind Ensemble. As a result, I get to know about the music for their concerts very early in the season. So I thought I would describe a few of the selections for the November 23rd concert. (Be sure to put that on your calendar and to visit their web site: http://www.knightwind.org/).
I have to write about a charming march that is on the program: The Padstow Lifeboat by Englishman Malcolm Arnold (arranged by Ray Woodfield). First a bit about the composer. He was very active in writing for motion pictures: 132 film scores. His most famous is from the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he won an Oscar in 1958. While he wrote many works for band, he also wrote chamber music, operas, and nine symphonies. This march, written for the opening of a new lifeboat station in Padstow in 1968, has a distinctive foghorn sound within it. The opening tune is in the key of A flat, and the foghorn sounds are in D. So the foghorn sound, which is played very loud compared to the rest of the march, sticks out more than just a bit. One review I read called it "a bit rude". It's quite the charming little march; lots of fun to listen to.
Another piece on the concert is the mourning sounds of Elegy for a Young American by Ronald Lo Presti. Written in 1964, it is dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. Feelings of shock, denial, anger, and remorse are heard, but are replaced by a celebration of the contributions of this great American. A wonderful piece, you must hear it.
There are three other pieces on the concert. I'll have a bit on each of them in an upcoming post.
Also for those of you in the Sheboygan area, the Milwaukee Festival Brass performs next week Sunday the 11th at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Here's a link to an article about that upcoming concert from the Sheboygan Press: http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/SHE04/809210447
And onto the first concert preview of the season. Many of you know that I volunteer for the Knightwind Ensemble. As a result, I get to know about the music for their concerts very early in the season. So I thought I would describe a few of the selections for the November 23rd concert. (Be sure to put that on your calendar and to visit their web site: http://www.knightwind.org/).
I have to write about a charming march that is on the program: The Padstow Lifeboat by Englishman Malcolm Arnold (arranged by Ray Woodfield). First a bit about the composer. He was very active in writing for motion pictures: 132 film scores. His most famous is from the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he won an Oscar in 1958. While he wrote many works for band, he also wrote chamber music, operas, and nine symphonies. This march, written for the opening of a new lifeboat station in Padstow in 1968, has a distinctive foghorn sound within it. The opening tune is in the key of A flat, and the foghorn sounds are in D. So the foghorn sound, which is played very loud compared to the rest of the march, sticks out more than just a bit. One review I read called it "a bit rude". It's quite the charming little march; lots of fun to listen to.
Another piece on the concert is the mourning sounds of Elegy for a Young American by Ronald Lo Presti. Written in 1964, it is dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. Feelings of shock, denial, anger, and remorse are heard, but are replaced by a celebration of the contributions of this great American. A wonderful piece, you must hear it.
There are three other pieces on the concert. I'll have a bit on each of them in an upcoming post.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
More dates for the Calendar
I heard from the director of the Wauwatosa Community Band this week. She was finally able to confirm the concert dates. Their first concert is a Children's Halloween concert on Saturday November 1 at 1 PM. Their Christmas concert is Tuesday December 16th at 7:30 PM. Both concerts will be held at Longfellow Middle School at the corner of 76th and North Avenue.
Just a note: the Wauwatosa Community Band always has a fun show. I suggest you attend one (or both) of these concerts, especially if you need a little cheering up. You'll have a great time.
Also of note are the performances coming up this weekend by the Modjeska Youth Theater. This group, based out of the old Modjeska Theater on Historic Mitchell Street, accepts school age kids for performances ONLY if they maintain a B average in their school work. On top of that, their performances are always well done and entertaining. I've personally seen a number of their performances and have always enjoyed them.
This weekend and next the Modjeska Youth Theater performs West Side Story, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in late 50's New York with wonderful (and difficult) music by Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are $10 to $25 and can be reserved by calling 414-384-4550. For more information, see their web site: www.modjeskamilwaukee.com. I saw this group perform this show a few years back and was stunned by how good the performance was. If you have an opening in your calendar the next two weekends, I suggest you take in a performance.
I'll be in the audience next week Friday the 10th. Say hello at intermission!
Just a note: the Wauwatosa Community Band always has a fun show. I suggest you attend one (or both) of these concerts, especially if you need a little cheering up. You'll have a great time.
Also of note are the performances coming up this weekend by the Modjeska Youth Theater. This group, based out of the old Modjeska Theater on Historic Mitchell Street, accepts school age kids for performances ONLY if they maintain a B average in their school work. On top of that, their performances are always well done and entertaining. I've personally seen a number of their performances and have always enjoyed them.
This weekend and next the Modjeska Youth Theater performs West Side Story, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in late 50's New York with wonderful (and difficult) music by Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are $10 to $25 and can be reserved by calling 414-384-4550. For more information, see their web site: www.modjeskamilwaukee.com. I saw this group perform this show a few years back and was stunned by how good the performance was. If you have an opening in your calendar the next two weekends, I suggest you take in a performance.
I'll be in the audience next week Friday the 10th. Say hello at intermission!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
We have one, most communities do not!
Many communities have a band, folks volunteering to make life in their communities richer. Some communities have orchestras. But very few communities have a brass band of the British style. The Milwaukee area is lucky to have the Milwaukee Festival Brass.
The first big difference is in the instrumentation. Instead of trumpets, they use cornets. Instead of french horns, they use the upright alto horn (called tenor horns in Europe). The rest of the instrumentation includes trombones (tenor and bass), baritones, euphoniums, and Eb and Bb tubas. As a result the "color" of the sound is much different, very lush. You really have to experience it yourself. Definitely worth taking in one of the concerts of the Milwaukee Festival Brass.
One big difference in the brass band tradition is the idea of competition. In Great Britain, the country is divided into sections. To reach the National competition in the fall, you must place in the top 2 or 3 in your section competitions in the spring. Here in the US, there is the Great American Brass Band Festival in spring, and the US Open Brass Band Championships in northern Illinois in fall. There are many other brass band festivals and competitions, but those are the two big ones.
And if you'd like to see the Milwaukee Festival Brass in competition this fall, reserve November 8 for your trip to St. Charles Illinois at the Norris Cultural Arts Center. While the details are not fully set, Dr. Pat Backhaus emailed me that they were intending to compete at the US Open this year, as they did last year. (In fact, if you bring up the US Open page, on the left side you can hear a short portion of an MFB performance.)
So, for something different, take a ride to northern Illinois on November 8th and take in the US Open Brass Band Championships
The first big difference is in the instrumentation. Instead of trumpets, they use cornets. Instead of french horns, they use the upright alto horn (called tenor horns in Europe). The rest of the instrumentation includes trombones (tenor and bass), baritones, euphoniums, and Eb and Bb tubas. As a result the "color" of the sound is much different, very lush. You really have to experience it yourself. Definitely worth taking in one of the concerts of the Milwaukee Festival Brass.
One big difference in the brass band tradition is the idea of competition. In Great Britain, the country is divided into sections. To reach the National competition in the fall, you must place in the top 2 or 3 in your section competitions in the spring. Here in the US, there is the Great American Brass Band Festival in spring, and the US Open Brass Band Championships in northern Illinois in fall. There are many other brass band festivals and competitions, but those are the two big ones.
And if you'd like to see the Milwaukee Festival Brass in competition this fall, reserve November 8 for your trip to St. Charles Illinois at the Norris Cultural Arts Center. While the details are not fully set, Dr. Pat Backhaus emailed me that they were intending to compete at the US Open this year, as they did last year. (In fact, if you bring up the US Open page, on the left side you can hear a short portion of an MFB performance.)
So, for something different, take a ride to northern Illinois on November 8th and take in the US Open Brass Band Championships
Friday, September 12, 2008
As promised - the 2008-09 Season Calendar
I know you're ready to print this post and decorate your refrigerator! But I'm still waiting for responses from two of the local band directors, and I have no info at all on two other groups. I'll need your help to get that info, more on that later. When the information comes in, I'll add it to this post so that everything will be in one place. And I'll be sure to alert you to the additions in the weekly postings. And now, on with the calendar of concerts!
OCTOBER
11 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform Fabulous 40 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Sheboygan at 7 PM.
18 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their fall concert at 7 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
NOVEMBER
1 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs a Children's Halloween Concert at 1 PM at Logfellow Middle School
2 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Fabulous 40 at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay at 3 PM
8 - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra performs a Fall Fantasy Concert at 7:30 at the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
9 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Fall Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
11 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium at Carroll University
21 - Suburban Concert Band of West Allis performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School
23 - The Knightwind Ensemble performs Pastiche at 3 PM at Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College
DECEMBER
7 - Menomonee Falls Symphony perform the Sing Along Messiah at St. Sebastian's Church in Milwaukee at 2 PM
12 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium
14 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform O Christmas Brass at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall
14 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band perform their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at the Basilica of Holy Hill in Hubertus
14 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Christmas Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
16 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at Longfellow Middle School
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
13 and 14 - Menomonee Falls Symphony present their annual Valentines Day Dinner and Concert at the Silver Spring Country Club. Dinner begins at 6:30.
MARCH
6 - Suburban Concert Band performs a winter concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis
8 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Americans We at their annual Festival concert at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall. This year's concert salutes our Armed Services.
8 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM in the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
22 - Knightwind Ensemble performs their spring concert at Schwan Concert Hall at 3 PM
APRIL
MAY
1 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their annual Spring Benefit Concert featuring the winner of the Concerto Competition at 7:30 in Shattuck Auditorium
15 - Suburban Band of West Allis performs their spring concert at Nathan Hale High School at 7:30
16 - Menomonee Falls Symphony performs Springtime featuring the winner of their Young Artist Competition at 7:30 in the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
17 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their Concerto Concert featuring the winner of their concerto competition at 3 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
17 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
25 - The Knightwind Ensemble perform their 20th Annual Memorial Day Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo at 1 PM
JUNE
7 - Milwaukee Festival Brass present Intergallactic Brass at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall
I am still waiting for information from the director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. As I mentioned above, when it comes in, I'll let you know and then add it to this list.
Also, I have had no luck finding the schedules for the Milwaukee Concert Band and the Greendale Village Band. If you have information on their season schedules, please post a reply with the information. Thanks.
OCTOBER
11 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform Fabulous 40 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Sheboygan at 7 PM.
18 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their fall concert at 7 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
NOVEMBER
1 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs a Children's Halloween Concert at 1 PM at Logfellow Middle School
2 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Fabulous 40 at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay at 3 PM
8 - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra performs a Fall Fantasy Concert at 7:30 at the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
9 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Fall Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
11 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium at Carroll University
21 - Suburban Concert Band of West Allis performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School
23 - The Knightwind Ensemble performs Pastiche at 3 PM at Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College
DECEMBER
7 - Menomonee Falls Symphony perform the Sing Along Messiah at St. Sebastian's Church in Milwaukee at 2 PM
12 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium
14 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform O Christmas Brass at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall
14 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band perform their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at the Basilica of Holy Hill in Hubertus
14 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Christmas Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
16 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at Longfellow Middle School
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
13 and 14 - Menomonee Falls Symphony present their annual Valentines Day Dinner and Concert at the Silver Spring Country Club. Dinner begins at 6:30.
MARCH
6 - Suburban Concert Band performs a winter concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis
8 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Americans We at their annual Festival concert at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall. This year's concert salutes our Armed Services.
8 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM in the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
22 - Knightwind Ensemble performs their spring concert at Schwan Concert Hall at 3 PM
APRIL
MAY
1 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their annual Spring Benefit Concert featuring the winner of the Concerto Competition at 7:30 in Shattuck Auditorium
15 - Suburban Band of West Allis performs their spring concert at Nathan Hale High School at 7:30
16 - Menomonee Falls Symphony performs Springtime featuring the winner of their Young Artist Competition at 7:30 in the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
17 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their Concerto Concert featuring the winner of their concerto competition at 3 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
17 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
25 - The Knightwind Ensemble perform their 20th Annual Memorial Day Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo at 1 PM
JUNE
7 - Milwaukee Festival Brass present Intergallactic Brass at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall
I am still waiting for information from the director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. As I mentioned above, when it comes in, I'll let you know and then add it to this list.
Also, I have had no luck finding the schedules for the Milwaukee Concert Band and the Greendale Village Band. If you have information on their season schedules, please post a reply with the information. Thanks.
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