Concert Critique

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On January 10, 2016, I attended the W.D. Packard Band concert at W.D. Packard Music Hall. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing. I have attended other performances and concerts at this venue. The performers vary in age difference and level of experience, but are all extremely talented. The conductor for the band is Dr. Stephen L. Gage. He is a well-known professor at Youngstown State University. This is the second concert I have attended with Dr. Gage conducting. The theme for the show was “New Year Around the World”. Each song focused on a different country, some including Russia, France, Ireland, and even the United States. The first piece that was performed really caught my attention. The piece was “Gavorkna Fanfare” by Jack Stamp. …show more content…

Packard Concert Band was “An Irish Rhapsody” by Clare Grundman. I have never heard this piece before this performance. At the beginning, the dynamic levels are about a mezzo-forte. The woodwinds are playing legato while the snare is significantly noticeable in the background. The piece then slows down and there are no percussion parts noticeable, until later when the flutes and clarinets bring in the main English-themed melody. The brass add a fuller sound to the main melody by using imitative polyphony. The suspension builds until the piece slows down again. This composition reminds me of the march by Holst that we are learning to play in Symphonic band. The saxophones also have an English-themed scoop that sounds extremely similar to their part in Holst. The melody continues to go from andante to legato to vivace. The variety of tempos helped to keep my attention the whole performance. There wasn’t a huge climax in my opinion. The only climax that seemed to be apparent was only during the English-themed melody. The piece ended by many percussion parts and a simplified version of the English-themed melody and the legato sections mixed together. If I had to describe the ending, I would say it was very suspenseful in the fact that there was a retard and everyone continued to crescendo until the very last release. I really liked this piece because of its’ unique sound. The different tempos and dynamic levels really helped this piece to flow …show more content…

However, it was absolutely beautiful and I’m extremely happy they played it last. It is definitely a powerful piece. To summarize this piece, I would have to start with the tempo and style. The beginning starts out extremely slow and legato. The chimes are softly ringing in the background and the band starts to crescendo. They slowly decrescendos as the flutes come in softly and hold a fermata. Once everyone decrescendos away, a sudden change in tempo occurs. The low brass comes in fast, then the original tempo returns. The band then crescendos into an even faster tempo and louder dynamic level. The clarinets help to build a newfound suspension, and at the climax the percussion crash the cymbals to signify the importance. There is again another short break. The bass clarinets and low clarinets come in and play at a piano dynamic level. A brief oboe solo is interrupted when quick staccato notes are played by the high woodwinds. The oboe completes the solo and is joined once again by the full band. They slowly crescendo together while a light, crisp sound comes from the bells. The legato style continues for a while longer until the chimes and low brass start to crescendo. The rest of the band slowly enters and each section uses imitative polyphony to imitate the low brass rhythms. The bells, gong, cymbals, tympani, and brass slowly retard and build the suspense as the climax is being reached. A short

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