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SYMPHONIC PLAYERS BRING PLEASANT SOUNDS
The Auburn Plainsman
October 9, 2008
USA
The Auburn University Symphonic Band held its first concert of the
fall on Thursday.
The concert, featuring the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensembles and Chamber
Winds, was held at the Opelika Performing Arts Center.
The night began with the entire symphonic band performing "Olympic
Fanfare and Theme" by James Curnow. It followed with Jaromir
Weinberger's "Polka and Fugue."
After the first two pieces, the band tried a different approach
as they split up into smaller sections for the next four pieces,
featuring guest conductors for all four.
The groups were labeled the Tiger Wind Ensemble and Eagle Wind
Ensemble.
Conductor and Director of Bands Rick Good said the groups were split
right down the middle, adding no one student was better than another.
He said he feels the splitting of the groups helped the overall
performance.
"The small groups put more pressure on the player, and when they do
that, the big groups do better," Good said.
The performances are what Good said he thought made the night a
success, and he would like that to carry on into the spring.
"We have the two wind ensembles getting ready for the spring, because
in the spring we will have a symphonic wind group and we will have a
concert band," Good said. "So that's what we're getting the students
prepared for."
Good said the band usually only practices two days a week, but this
fall they were practicing four.
He said he wants to use that kind of work ethic to be able to show
people they have a good symphonic wind and percussion program.
"Some of the schools use it against us that they know our marching band
is good," Good said. "But they think we won't have a good concert band,
which we really do, and we're trying to get out there more."
Three graduate assistants were guest conductors for the evening.
Staci Wyland presented Guy Woolfenden's "Suite Francaise," Allison
Parker presented Malcolm Arnold's "English Dances Set Two" and Dustin
White presented Clifton William's "Symphonic Suite."
Associate Director of Bands Corey Spurlin was also a guest conductor.
He presented Vincent Persichetti's "Serenade No. 1, Op. 1" and was
pleased with how the students performed.
"I felt it went pretty well for the first concert of the year," Spurlin
said. "It's a class, and we're constantly involved in learning and
getting better throughout the semester."
Spurlin said he liked the breaking up of the groups because it gave
them a spotlight and teaches them to play more of a solo style of
performance.
"When you break things down into smaller groups, it puts a little bit
more pressure on the players," Spurlin said. "When they get back with
the bigger band, it improves their skill."
One aspect of the concert Spurlin said he enjoyed was the audience
was given a little variety. He said he liked that there were different
groups to listen to so they didn't have the big group the whole time.
After the guest conductors finished their pieces, Good came back to
close out the night with Richard Wagner's "Trauersinfonie" and Alfred
Reed's "Armenian Dances (Part I)."
Emily Maddox, a senior in percussion, said the experience was a new
one, being that they usually don't do concerts this early.
"This semester is the first time we've been having more rehearsals
during the week," Maddox said. "We've been splitting up into smaller
groups, which helps us be able to have a concert sooner."
Maddox said splitting up the groups allowed them to explore a lot
and be different.
She agreed with Spurlin that it put more pressure on individual
performers.
"There's definitely more responsibility when there is one person
to a part as oppose to maybe six other people playing with you,"
Maddox said.
"It ups the level of musicianship."
The Auburn Plainsman
October 9, 2008
USA
The Auburn University Symphonic Band held its first concert of the
fall on Thursday.
The concert, featuring the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensembles and Chamber
Winds, was held at the Opelika Performing Arts Center.
The night began with the entire symphonic band performing "Olympic
Fanfare and Theme" by James Curnow. It followed with Jaromir
Weinberger's "Polka and Fugue."
After the first two pieces, the band tried a different approach
as they split up into smaller sections for the next four pieces,
featuring guest conductors for all four.
The groups were labeled the Tiger Wind Ensemble and Eagle Wind
Ensemble.
Conductor and Director of Bands Rick Good said the groups were split
right down the middle, adding no one student was better than another.
He said he feels the splitting of the groups helped the overall
performance.
"The small groups put more pressure on the player, and when they do
that, the big groups do better," Good said.
The performances are what Good said he thought made the night a
success, and he would like that to carry on into the spring.
"We have the two wind ensembles getting ready for the spring, because
in the spring we will have a symphonic wind group and we will have a
concert band," Good said. "So that's what we're getting the students
prepared for."
Good said the band usually only practices two days a week, but this
fall they were practicing four.
He said he wants to use that kind of work ethic to be able to show
people they have a good symphonic wind and percussion program.
"Some of the schools use it against us that they know our marching band
is good," Good said. "But they think we won't have a good concert band,
which we really do, and we're trying to get out there more."
Three graduate assistants were guest conductors for the evening.
Staci Wyland presented Guy Woolfenden's "Suite Francaise," Allison
Parker presented Malcolm Arnold's "English Dances Set Two" and Dustin
White presented Clifton William's "Symphonic Suite."
Associate Director of Bands Corey Spurlin was also a guest conductor.
He presented Vincent Persichetti's "Serenade No. 1, Op. 1" and was
pleased with how the students performed.
"I felt it went pretty well for the first concert of the year," Spurlin
said. "It's a class, and we're constantly involved in learning and
getting better throughout the semester."
Spurlin said he liked the breaking up of the groups because it gave
them a spotlight and teaches them to play more of a solo style of
performance.
"When you break things down into smaller groups, it puts a little bit
more pressure on the players," Spurlin said. "When they get back with
the bigger band, it improves their skill."
One aspect of the concert Spurlin said he enjoyed was the audience
was given a little variety. He said he liked that there were different
groups to listen to so they didn't have the big group the whole time.
After the guest conductors finished their pieces, Good came back to
close out the night with Richard Wagner's "Trauersinfonie" and Alfred
Reed's "Armenian Dances (Part I)."
Emily Maddox, a senior in percussion, said the experience was a new
one, being that they usually don't do concerts this early.
"This semester is the first time we've been having more rehearsals
during the week," Maddox said. "We've been splitting up into smaller
groups, which helps us be able to have a concert sooner."
Maddox said splitting up the groups allowed them to explore a lot
and be different.
She agreed with Spurlin that it put more pressure on individual
performers.
"There's definitely more responsibility when there is one person
to a part as oppose to maybe six other people playing with you,"
Maddox said.
"It ups the level of musicianship."