Norfolk State University
Concert Critique #2
Anthony Hardy
Music 301
November 27, 2016
The concert I choose to attend was the Western Branch High Schools Winter Solstice concert. It featured the Concert Band as well as my little brother who is currently a student at Western Branch Middle School. The concert lasted just under an hour including a short intermission in the middle of the performance
The concert bands first song Sovereign Variants by James Curnow starts of very lively and staccato with the melody being played by the upper woodwinds. The melody then switches to the low brass and they play it using legato almost slurred. It is then passed through different sections in the band and each time played quicker. This piece was well played and was a pleasure to hear.
The second piece was King Arthur Suite composed by Henry Purcell. The first movement starts off with a royal fanfare with the trumpets playing the melody very accented, marcatto and fortissimo. The second movement is played allegro and legato with the upper woodwinds playing the main melody at a pleasant mezzo forte. Dance is the final movement of this piece. It was played marcatto, allegro and at a triple forte. .
Glorious Things of Thee by James D. Ployhar was the bands third song. Upper wind instruments played a very soft and legato melody. The song is played moderato and reminds me of a very long back choral. This church hymn was played very nicely and the high notes were in tune.
The Spirit of Our Land, written by Frank Bencriscutto, was the Concert bands fourth song. The trumpets play the main melody very legato largo and at a forte. The piece continues with the main melody switching between sections each time a new variation introduced. The song seemed to imply that the actual spirit of our land is dull and uneventful because of the repetition and that it seemed to drag on.
The concert bands last piece is entitled Ritual for Band by Vaclav Nelhybel. This sinister sounding song starts off with the percussion playing instruments that depict an image of Native Americans beating drums around a fire. The piece was beautiful and it was a great song choice to end the concert.
The concert flowed very well, and every piece complimented the next one. My brother did a wonderful job of fulfilling the bi-monthly tradition of being the sole middle school student in the concert. I am proud to say that I have my roots in the music programs here at Western Branch High School, and I look forward to attending more of their concerts over the next few years.
