Savannah Wind Symphony's Concert Critique

Introduction

I was lucky to watch the Savannah Wind Symphony's Concert to celebrate 39 years held at the Armstrong University on the 7th of March 2017, starting at 7:30 pm since I was not in attendance. The concert duped the World Premiere Commission Concert was made of performance from various sets performed by the Armstrong Community band. Among the live performances in the concert included;

Alfred Reed's Rejoicing (MVT III) Three Revelations From the Lotus Sutra

Alfred Reed's was born on the 25th of January 1921 and passed on the 17th of September 2005. He was an American neoclassical composer who composed more than 200 hundred published works across the genres of the orchestra, concert band, and chorus as well as a chamber ensemble. Born in New York, Reed started his formal music career training at the age of ten. Upon his graduation, with a master's degree in music, he served in different capacities in the music arena such as an executive editor of Hansen publications and a music professor at the University of Miami among others.

My favorite part of the performance was how the soloist's cadenza, which brought out the orchestra nature of the song rhythmically. All the movements were three-way accompanied by two opposing sub-movements, one that serves to frame the other. The piano and guitar were controlled by the movements made by the soloists to bring out the rhythm and overall quality of the performance. The set was performed delightfully with the ensemble in the auditorium venue being well fined tuned and Reed's structured harmonies were evident in the performance through the utilization of instruments of the era. Besides, the rhythmic aspect of music was also well utilized with the tapping of shoes and fingers showing efforts of the band trying to keep up with the pulse of the music. However, the performance had some weaknesses as the band remained sited and did not involve the audience throughout their performance, an aspect that made the performance dull. The clapping and applause coming from the audience indicated that they were highly engaged throughout the performance.

Samuel R. Hazo's Southern Hymn

Samuel Hazo was born in the year 1966 and is primarily an American composer of concert band music. Having been born to a poet and playwright father, Hazo developed his love for music since he was young and pursued his higher learnings in music. He taught music at Upper St. Clair School District. His composing career started when he was thirty, but his first composition was published five years later.

During the performance of his Southern Hymn by the Armstrong band, I enjoyed the utilization of musical instruments to bring accelerando where the tempo increased and dropped gradually. Melody was also well utilized in the performance with the music pitch being presented linearly and horizontally. However, I found the performance disjunct as I could not sing it along. The song was performed with the band sitted, but movements of their bodies were evident as the rhythm of the song was well incorporated during the performance. On the side of the audience reaction, I could see the majority of the audience tapping their feet down in line with the performance, indicating that they were following the whole performance.

Sean O’Loughlin’s Spirals of Light

Sean O'loughlin was born in the year 1972 and is both a composer, arranger, and conductor. He is currently the Principal Pops Conductor of Symphoria. He has led many performances as a conductor and is regarded as one of the rising stars in the music world.

During the performance of his song the Spirals of light at the Savannah Wind Symphony's Concert, the Armstrong community band utilized the movements from mezzo-piano to forte as the piano was played all along. The rhythm was well utilized throughout the performance while melody also took Centre stage. This was seen as the audience tried to sing along with the band despite them utilizing musical beats. Also, the melody was incorporated by the accelerando that increased and dropped the tempo gradually. However, I never found the performance by the band while sited exiting as they never involved the audience in the performance, thus making most of the audience lose track in the course of the performance.

Julius Fucik's Florentiner March

Julius Fucik lived between the 18th of July 1872 and the 25th of September 1916. He was a Czech military composer and conductor. Most of his works were for the military and died with 400 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name.

During the performance of his song the Florentiner match, I was fascinated by the band's utilization of the military tone and rhythm in their performance to give the audience the sense of a military parade. The movements throughout the performance were mainly close-order maneuvering with the conductor indicating the fast and slow movements involved in a military parade. The melody and form in the performance were that of the military. However, despite enjoying the rhythm in the performance of the Florentiner March, I never found the performance by the band while sited in line with the genre of the song as this did not involve the audience as Fucik intended.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the printed program helped me with this critique to understand the order in which the songs were played, those that directed the performance, the band, and the individuals who played the various musical instruments. The performances of all the four sets was a success as the audience clapped and applauded the band upon completion. Besides, most audiences were seen following and enjoying the entire performance. Today the performances can be considered repertory as many songs in similar genres have been performed.

Works Cited

"Alfred Reed - Three Revelations from the Lotus Sutra." 10 May, 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV30DmyRxRw.

"Julius Fucik - Florentiner Marsch." 8 Dec. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ENUV8rLp5I.

"Southern Hymn- Samuel Hazo." 19 Aug. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA3zuQ12Ms8.

"Spirals of Light." 27 Dec. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHITeS4WHi4.