Symphonic Band Essay Examples

It was on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 that I realized what true and live music meant. The evening at the Studley Theatre changed my perception about music. Though I have always loved music, the experience left me mesmerized and wanting for more. The concert named ‘Symphonic Band’ organized by the department of Music and School of Fine and Performing arts of the University was indeed once in a lifetime experience. The concert was wonderful and incredible and had some of the finest artists, singers under one roof. The performances were mesmerizing and left a lasting impression on each of the members in the audience and I was no exception.
Though each and every performance at the concert had an element of surprise and specialty, it was the very first performance of the concert that was the star or main attraction of the show, for me at least. It was for the first time that I listened to Jaime Texidor Dalmau’s ‘Amparito Roca’, a Pasodoble, and instantly fell in love with its lyrics. The song made me realize how gifted and talented a composer Dalmau was. The music was soft and a treat to the ears. A steady tempo and simple rhythm added to the beauty that the song possessed. It wasn’t only the rhythm or lyrics of the Pasodoble that left me awestruck, it was the flawless and well-synchronized performance by the band, which made it, added brilliance to the song. I felt a sense of numbness while I watched the performance. I felt lost and I felt captivated and indeed I was. I loved the performance to the core for it had all the elements of music in perfect proportion.
It took me quite a while to come out of the awe that the starter of the show had pushed me into. Though the next two performances of the show were equally good, but the hardly hit me like ‘Amparito Roca’ did. But it wasn’t too long before I was exposed to another incredible performance. The English Folk song suite consisted of three movements namely March: Seventeen Come Sunday, Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy and March: Folk Songs from Somerset. Though folk songs have interested me, ‘Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams was different. The starting was slow but the rhythm ultimately picked up. It wasn’t hard to imagine or understand that the composer worked for the military band since the song consisted of all features, which are common to major military songs. The song had a vivid and distinct tune to it and it was no time before I started humming it. The energy level of the song combined with the passionate performance by the band members tuned into a delightful and perfect show. The performance presented with a very strong combination of flutes and saxophones that was very pleasant to the ears and the intermittent use of Trumpets and Horns gave it the military music flavor. The duo of Bassoon players also did a wonderful job and added a texture to the song. The performance was an all round performance from the band members every member of the band had a role to play in its success. I was, like many others in the audience, hooked to the tune or melody of the song by the time the performance ended.
The concert was an incredible show of discipline and talent by the band members. The show was well organized and had the perfect and conducive atmosphere for the kind of music that was on display. I cherished each and every moment that I spent at the venue. The show had the perfect mix of glamour and simplicity. The genres of music were distinct and disparate which gave the show a plethora of flavors. There was something in it for everything and especially for the music lovers. I was amazed and stunned by the coherence and complete understanding between the different members of the band, which made the show special. The two sections of the band that drew my attention explicitly was the group of Flutists and Trumpet players solely for the their temperament and talent. The order of the performances or songs was also set in a perfect manner and each performance suited the preceding and following performances very well. It was simply stunning to see how the band members switched through the songs of different types and genres almost effortlessly.
I always feel privileged and fortunate to be part of such high quality concerts organized by the University. Each live concert that the department organizes offers something new and extremely surprising. Though this concert wasn’t the first of the series of concerts in this semester, it was as special as the other that I was part of earlier in this semester. These shows have changed my views on music immensely and intensely. I value the talents of the musicians and band members like never before and understand the dedication, perseverance and flawlessness that is required to play live in front of an audience. The singers from the last concert were not only melodious, but were also great performers because of the way they engaged the audience. I am indeed thankful to my University for giving me this opportunity to be exposed to the finest talents in the music industry and I look forward to many more of such experiences.