Klarinet Archive - Posting 000562.txt from 2001/09

From: The Guy on the Couch <jnohe@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Memorial program
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 16:06:00 -0400

On Fri, 14 Sep 2001, Donna Higgins wrote:

> If you had to put such a program together, what music would you choose,
> keeping in mind that it would have to be material that requires minimal
> or no rehearsal time and that would be familiar and meaningful for a
> large cross-section of the community?

Our marching band did this, actually - Dr. Fant grabbed as I entered the
music building at about 9:30 Thursday morning and dragged me in to Dr. Van
Winkle's office for a meeting. He wanted to use Thurdsay and Friday's
marching band rehearsals to put on a concert for the community, leaving us
only Thursday for rehearsing. We agreed (not that my say was nearly as
big as Dr. Van's, being only the Grad Assistant), and the program was very
quickly assembled - a patriotic arrangement called Spirit of America (just
a bit too upbeat for my tastes, but it went over fairly well); Lee
Greenwood's God Bless the USA; an arrangement of Sweet, Sweet Spirit; and
the slightly watered down Carmen Dragon arrangement of America the
Beautiful (watered down only in that the multiple tonguing in the final
fanfare was removed).

When the concert came yesterday, we added a Roland Barrett original called
Seventh Flight, which isn't really patriotic or memorialistic, but
noticably wholesome and uplifing (it's the opener for our pregame show),
and the Battle Hymn Chorale, a gorgeous one-minute arrangement that leads
directly into the National Anthem.

When the colors were presented Friday afternoon, EVERYONE sang the
national anthem (around 2500 were in the audience)...the right words, on
key.

I was also given the honor/responsibility of leading the Pride in the
Carmen Dragon. I've played the Dragon arrangement in the concert band
setting on four prior occasions, and each time, I am always moved...not
neccesarily due to patriotic sentiments (sometimes, though), but mostly
because the arrangement is so beautiful. The chords built after the key
change can twist the heart very well...I stepped on to the podium
yesterday a bit nervous (having only had essentially two total run
throughs of the work with the Pride), closed my eyes, and led them in.
Having not conducted during a performance before, I was unaware of what to
expect...and with the music being in strict four, I didn't need to
concentrate on the score, and the music itself led me just as much
(perhaps more) as I led it.

As the second phrase in the second verse began to build ("Thine alabaster
cities gleam") my knees buckled slightly and I just about lost it.

The University jumped at our concert plans and made a huge ceremony out of
it - my conducting was preceding by speeches from the University
President, the local Bishop, and a Rabbi. My piece was immediately
followed with Tchesnkov's Salvation is Created...all of us were moved,
many to tears.

A memorial concert can be a powerful powerful thing - it's a great idea,
and serves as a powerful catharsis for the public.

J. Shouryu Nohe
Grad Assistant, New Mexico State University
"I think we have a ghost in our house." - Kaycee Nicole
"I should probably be playing Buffet." - Steve Moore

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