FREE ESSAY ON WIND SYMPHONY

WIND SYMPHONY

Becky Auten 
Professor Hammer
Music Lecture 1003
14 October 1999
Wind Symphony
W.Dale Warren, Conductor
The Wind Symphony preformed on Monday, October 11 at 8:00 p.m. at the Walton Arts Center
in Baum-Walker Hall. The performance lasted one hour and thirty minuets and consisted of
six pieces.
The first piece was Variations for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughn Williams. All the
instruments tuned to the oboe then they started the English piece. The Bass and symbols
came in first and was very loud. The song reminded me of the movie ''Raiders of the Lost
Ark.'' The feeling was mysterious and I liked it.
The second piece was Chester Overture for Band by William Schuman. This American song
moved very fast with a lot of clarinet and flute for the melody. I liked this song
because it was patriotic.
The third piece was Chester leaps in by Steven Bryant. I really liked this song because I
heard a lot of clarinet and bell solos. I happen to be a clarinet player and I know how
hard it is for clarinets to be heard so I really enjoyed this piece.
The fourth piece was Marche Joyeuse by Emmanuel Chabrier. This piece featured an oboe
solo and then the full band came in and repeated the melody several times. I liked this
French song because of the fullness and richness of the rhythm. This song made me feel
happy.
The fifth piece was Bacchanale by Rolf Rudin. This German piece was full of wonderful
moments and colors, but changes feelings though out. First the song starts out
suspenseful like something bad is about to happen in a thriller movie. Then the song
changes to happy like what someone might hear at a festival. At the end there is a
trumpet solo that expresses major and minor harmonics. I thought this song was too long,
but I still liked it.
The sixth piece was Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli. This American piece featured an oboe and
French horn solo. Lots of a triangle was used as well. Towards the middle there was a
violent volcano sound and then a loud bang at the end. I did not like this piece as well
as the others because it seemed evil with the explosive rhythms and loud bass sounds.