Klarinet Archive - Posting 001191.txt from 1998/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band and (Concert Band also)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 18:24:50 -0400

On Wed, 30 Sep 1998, Craig Earl Countryman wrote:
> Is it standard practice to play only three concert band numbers for
> the majority of concert season.
[snip]
> Obviously, a great deal of attention should
> be devoted to contest numbers, but high school students would also benefit
> from being exposed to a wide variety of music.

Nothing is standard practice. The issues are fairly simple. How many
concerts does the band (or should the band) perform each year? Who else
is on the concert? How many pieces should a band play on a Concert if
they are the only ones? How long should a concert be?

The number of pieces on the concert depends on how long the concert is and
for how much of that time the band is performing. Let's take a standard
band concert - one hour and 15 minutes with two ensembles (both bands) -
one a younger, less advanced (grade 2-3.5 music), and the other fully
instrumented and at a grade 4-5 level of music.

Group 1 (2-3.5): 20-25 minutes of music
Group 2: 25-30 minutes of music.

Most ensembles don't play 3 10 minute pieces - in fact, the average
commercial arrangement or work tends to be about 4 minutes! So.....that
would be four or five pieces for the first group, and 5 or six pieces for
the second group. If you do a Holst Suite and a march, that changes the
equation. BUT.....the bottom line is that contest shouldn't dictate what
the band plays all semester. Concert Band Festival SHOULD be an
opportunity to perform for comments - period. Take away the trophies,
take away the competitive aspect, and stick with playing a work for its
worth and the experience of performing.......!

So.....to answer the question......I don't really know.....depends on all
or part of the above!

Roger Garrett
IWU

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