Concert Band Analysis

Although music is a very diverse and broad topic, it finds its own way to bring people together and allow people to express themselves in many ways. There are various ways that people can express themselves through music; singing, playing an instrument, or even just listening to music. When playing an instrument, you can either do it independently, with a small band, concert/jazz band, or an orchestra. Although these are all common, the typical high school band is a concert band, which consists of many sections of instruments. First, there is the woodwind section, which usually holds the main melody, and the harmony. Then, there is the brass section which holds both the melody, and the countermelody. The final section of the band resides in the back, which is the percussion section.

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percussion section, drums and mallets, of a band and/or orchestra is usually the keeper of the tempo of the group. Throughout the entire percussion section, there are hundreds of instruments that can be played; the main instruments being the snare drum and the marimba. Although percussionists must be well-rounded and learn to play a vast majority of the instruments, usually one appeals to them more than the others. For most, the snare drum is the favorable choice of them all, but on the other hand, mallet instruments are favorable to some as well. The mallet section has many instruments as well, such as the glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, and xylophone. These instruments vary in the number of octaves and tone, but also what material they are made out of. For most jazz selections, the vibraphone is the most favorable due to its ringing capability and the substance that the keys give off, as opposed to the xylophone. A well-renowned composer of jazz music is Murray Houllif, who has published many works, and will continue to publish many more.

Born in Woodbourne, New York, Murray Houllif was influenced by many new styles of music due to the area’s diversity. His early influences can be see throughout the entirety of his pieces; ranging from melodic to jazz and then to contemporary. Throughout his entire musical career he has had over 250 publications, including multiple journals and solo collections. Some of his most famous works include “Six Estudios for the Marimba”, and his arrangement of “Twenty Bach Chorales”. Without Houliff’s vast experiences within the music industry, his works may have gone unnoticed, or even unwritten. As co-coordinator, and later coordinator, of percussion at North Texas State University in Denton, he was able to indulge and experiment with new ideas and styles of music. As well as being co-coordinator, Houllif also played in the Long Island Symphony and with Art Rollini. Although Houllif does not seem to be as well known in the music industry as others, he has had the opportunity to endorse Pro-Mark sticks and Grover Pro-Percussion products.

From Houllif’s book, “Contest Solos for the Intermediate Mallet Player”, the selection, “Three Mallet Waltz”, is one that can be played on various mallet instruments, such as the marimba and vibraphone.

This solo includes various components, such as a key change, multiple repeats, and it is in 4/4 time. Along with what was said earlier, this piece demonstrates Houllif’s use of different styles of writing and music; since this piece is jazz. Throughout the entirety of this work, eighth notes with a jazz swing to them are played, and repeated multiple times. Nearing the end of the piece, the eighth notes become tied with quarter notes which changes the rhythm of the coda. Although this piece can be played on any mallet instrument, it is suggested that one plays it on the vibraphone due to the “jazziness” of it, and since the vibraphone is recommended for a majority of jazz solos. Playing this piece on a xylophone or marimba would lead to this piece losing its substance because marimbas and xylophones do not resonate as well as a vibraphone. The vibraphone is the ideal instrument to play “Three Mallet Waltz”, although one would be able to play it on any other desired

instrument.

Houllif is a major influence of jazz, continuing the legacy of the style of the 20th Century throughout the entirety of his works. His compositions are now able to be played by all types of musicians, ranging from beginner to expert. Jazz is one of the most influential musical styles from the late 1800’s and was started by African Americans, who combined their style of music with Europe’s style. Throughout the early 1900’s, jazz started to become music more of a “free style”, which allowed the musician to play at their own free will. Despite the fact that jazz’s popularity has taken much of a downfall since it became known, some believe that jazz will make its way back to the top. Since the 2020’s are approaching rather quickly, and jazz became a large statement in the 1920’s, sceptics believe that jazz music is going to become as popular as it used to be, and make its way back up to Number One.