Concert #1: November 18th, 2024

Concert #1 Program Notes:

Varsity Band

Soulful Strut - "Soulful Strut" is an instrumental hit recorded in 1968 by the group Young-Holt Unlimited, a Chicago-based jazz and R&B combo. The track is best known for its infectious groove, driven by a catchy piano riff and smooth horn lines, and has become a classic example of the fusion between jazz, soul, and pop. The song was originally intended as a demo for another artist, but it was released as a single and quickly became a chart success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 10 on the pop chart. "Soulful Strut" was composed by arranger and pianist Leon “Pee Wee” Ellis and is built around a riff that was initially part of a larger jazz piece, “Am I the Same Girl,” written by Ellis and played by the group.

O.M.G - This arrangement was done by our very own Alexandrite Kern and was originally performed at our Homecoming & Pep Rally performances. We are excited to bring it back for this concert!

"O.M.G." by Usher, featuring will.i.am, was released in 2010 as the lead single from his sixth studio album Raymond v. Raymond. A high-energy dance track blending R&B with electronic and pop influences, the song showcases Usher’s signature smooth vocals, paired with a futuristic production style crafted by will.i.am. "O.M.G." (which stands for "Oh My Gosh") is an upbeat anthem about the electrifying feeling of meeting someone irresistible and the excitement of being swept away. The song was a massive commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in several countries and marking Usher’s return to the mainstream after a brief hiatus. The track's success solidified Usher's status as one of the leading figures in contemporary R&B and dance music, while its blend of electronic elements helped shape the sound of early 2010s pop music.

Focus - This cadence was original transcribed from Southern University when Mr. Flygt attended a middle/high school camp in 2024. The original grooves are only for Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Chest Tenor, and Cymbals. We have added a "quints" part which accompanies the snare.

Iron Man - "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath, released in 1970 as part of their groundbreaking album Paranoid, is one of the band’s most iconic and influential songs. Written by band members Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, the song features a distinctive, heavy riff that has become synonymous with the band’s sound and the burgeoning heavy metal genre. Lyrically, "Iron Man" tells the story of a man who is transformed into a powerful, yet tragic, metallic figure after a time-traveling experience. The character is filled with anger and revenge after being shunned by society, leading to a destructive path that ultimately isolates him. The song’s dark themes, combined with Iommi’s heavy guitar work and Osbourne’s haunting vocals, helped define Black Sabbath’s signature blend of doom-laden rock and surreal storytelling. "Iron Man" became a cornerstone of heavy metal, influencing countless bands and becoming one of the genre's most enduring anthems. This arrangement was a staple in Mr. Flygt's high school marching band expereince!

Symphonic Band

Flower Drum Song - Selections for Concert Band including: A Hundred Million Miracles, You Are Beautiful, Grant Avenue, Love Look A-Way, Chop Suey, I Am Going To Like It Here, Like A God, Sunday, Don't Marry Me, and I Enjoy Being A Girl. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein had one of the most successful musical partnerships of the 20th century, collaborating on the musicals "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "South Pacific," "The King And I," "Flower Drum Song," "Cinderella" and "The Sound Of Music" - musicals that continue to be revived. The Flower Drum Song is a novel by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee, first published in 1957. The novel tells the story of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco, and was a bestseller in its time. It is the basis of 1958 musical Flower Drum Song, and later a movie of the same title was released in 1961, starring Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta. This musical was not quite as popular as their others and was recently redone in 2002. Here is a synopsis on wikipedia.

FROM AN NPR INTERVIEW - TERRY GROSS: So before there was a Rodgers and Hammerstein, there was a Rodgers and Hart. Rodgers and Hart had a very long partnership. Hart's death officially ended their partnership. But it was already ending. So before we get to how Hammerstein entered the picture, why were things between Rodgers and Hart so rocky at the end?

PURDUM: Well, they had been close friends and partners for more than two decades, Terry. But as you point out, as 1942 rolled around, Larry Hart was increasingly falling prey to a problem that had plagued him for years, which was severe alcoholism. And he really was almost completely dysfunctional. He didn't want to work. He told Richard Rodgers he wasn't interested in working on adapting a play called "Green Grow The Lilacs," which is what became "Oklahoma!" He said he wanted to go off to Mexico. And Rodgers said if you go off to Mexico, all you'll want to do is drink. And in fact, when they brought him home, they had to sort of pull him off the train on a stretcher. So it was really a tragic moment in their long friendship.

GROSS: So at the end of the Rodgers and Hart partnership, Rodgers was ready to kind of leave Hart if Hart didn't stop drinking. He even offered to go to a sanitarium with him. But what happened was Hart just died. So Rodgers then teamed up with Oscar Hammerstein. How did their relationship start?

PURDUM: Well, they'd known each other for years. Oscar Hammerstein was a contemporary of Larry Hart's at Columbia University and of Richard Rodgers' older brother, Morty. And Rodgers had known him starting as a teenage boy when he went to see the annual spring varsity show at Columbia and made up his mind then and there that he wanted to go to Columbia and write a varsity show too.

So they'd been in touch for many years. So there were family connections. They grew up in the same part of Manhattan, in what's now East Harlem. But they had been in each other's circles. And they'd certainly known of each other over the years. They'd actually even collaborated on a couple of songs for a varsity show when they were younger men.

But what happened was Hart was still alive. He didn't actually die until after "Oklahoma!" premiered. But he was unable to work. So Richard Rodgers approached Oscar Hammerstein. Actually, he approached him when he was in Philadelphia working as a silent producer on a show called "Best Foot Forward." And Oscar had a farm in Doylestown, Pa., in Bucks County not far away. And Rodgers went out to see him. And asked him if he'd consider collaborating with him because he thought Larry was falling apart. And Hammerstein said, well, as long as Larry can do the work, you have to stay with him because it would kill him if you left him. But if he can't do the work, then I'll be there. And that's what happened.

Flourish For Wind Band - This work was composed as an Overture to the Pageant Music and the People and was first performed in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on April 1st, 1939.

About the composer: Vaughan Williams was born to a well-to-do family with strong moral views and a progressive social outlook. Throughout his life he sought to be of service to his fellow citizens, and believed in making music as available as possible to everybody. He wrote many works for amateur and student performance. He was musically a late developer, not finding his true voice until his late thirties; his studies in 1907–1908 with the French composer Maurice Ravel helped him clarify the textures of his music.

Two episodes made notably deep impressions in Vaughan Williams's personal life. The First World War, in which he served in the army, had a lasting emotional effect. Twenty years later, though in his sixties and devotedly married, he was reinvigorated by a love affair with a much younger woman, who later became his second wife. He went on composing through his seventies and eighties, producing his last symphony months before his death at the age of eighty-five. His works have continued to be a staple of the British concert repertoire, and all his major compositions and many of the minor ones have been recorded.

Brazil: Ceremony, Song and Samba - (from the composer) Based upon authentic Afro-Brazilian percussion rhythms, this piece is comprised of three musical sections illustrating the impact of the African experience on music of this part of the world. Each section of the piece is based upon authentic percussion rhtyhms. Beginning in northern Brazil, the first section is based on the traditional maracatu rhtyhm. The origin of the maracatu rhtyhm and background can be traced to the ceremonies of the Kings of the Congo. There were specific traditions among the enslaved people and specifically some leadership positions. The next part transitions to a bossa nova, the extremely popular Brazilian style of song that appeared in the 1960's and synonynmous with Rio de Janeiro. The piece concludes with the exciting sounds of Carnaval. Based upon the samba batucada and samba reggae rhythms. The last part evokes the sounds and images of the Samba Schools (percussion ensembles) that fill the streets during the anual celebration.

FURTHER INFORMATION: This specific arrangement has some other interesting things I would like to touch on. I have decided to inset a pandeiro solo after the first section to give the instrument some attention as well as time to speak by itself. This year Sergio Mendes passed away and we would like to dedicate this performance to him.

Concert #2: November 19th, 2024

Concert #2 Program Notes:

Concert Band 2

Arch of Triumph - is a concert march for young players in the traditional French Style, with a stately tempo of about 100 beats per minute. It is based loosely on French National Defile (ca. 1870), perhaps the best known of all French marches.

The title refers to the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile, one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks in Paris. It is located in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Elysees. Measuring 164 feet high by 148 feet wide by 72 feet deep, the Arch was commissioned in 1806 and finally completed between 1833 and 1836. It honors those who died for the France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

Viva La Vida - long live life or live life. LET'S GO!

This is originally by Coldplay and is on their 4th studio album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. It iis taken from a painting by 20th-century Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This an accurate translation and the painting reflects the artistic irony of acclaiming life while suffering physically. When asked about the album's title, referring to Frida Kahlo's strength, enduring polio, a broken spine, and a decade of chronic pain, lead singer Chris Martin said: "She went through a lot of pain, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida', I just loved the boldness of it."

Beginning Band

Mechanical Monsters - (from the composer, Randall Standridge):

Mechanical Monsters was born out of my love of two things:

1) B-Monster Movies from the 50’s and 60’s.

2) Teaching Beginning Band

When writing for young band, I always try to ask myself “what would I have LOVED to play at that age?” In this work, the sounds of metal and gears are used to overlay a repeating, plodding groove that suggests something shambling it’s way across a darkened countryside, drawing ever closer to the unsuspecting city dwellers, completely unaware of the havoc that is about to befall them. My younger self would have relished this mental image, and I hope your band students will too.

Peace, Love, and Music (and imminent destruction, haha!)

Dragon Slayer - Dragon Slayer by Rob Grice is an exhilarating and dramatic composition for concert band that takes the listener on an epic adventure filled with heroism, danger, and triumph. The piece opens with a bold, menacing theme representing the fearsome dragon, its ominous presence conveyed through powerful brass and percussion lines. As the music unfolds, the tension builds, leading to the arrival of the heroic knight. Through sweeping melodies and rapid rhythms, the battle between the knight and the dragon is brought to life, full of intensity and suspense. The middle section offers a moment of respite, where a lyrical, reflective passage symbolizes the knight's determination and inner strength. The final segment erupts in a triumphant, heroic fanfare as the dragon is defeated and peace is restored. With its vivid orchestration and engaging storytelling, Dragon Slayer captures the excitement of an age-old tale of bravery, delivering a thrilling listening experience that transports audiences to a world of legendary adventure.

Concert Band 1

Knights of Destiny - Knights of Destiny by Michael Sweeney is a bold and cinematic concert band composition that evokes the courage, honor, and nobility of legendary knights. The piece opens with a stately, heroic fanfare, setting the tone for an epic journey through medieval imagery. A series of contrasting themes unfolds, ranging from stirring and triumphant brass fanfares to more lyrical and introspective passages, reflecting the valor and inner conflict of these mythical warriors. The driving rhythms and sweeping melodies convey a sense of urgency and drama, while the intricate orchestration brings depth and grandeur to the narrative. As the music builds to a powerful climax, Sweeney delivers a sense of both resolution and destiny, honoring the timeless ideals of heroism and sacrifice. With its rich harmonic textures and dynamic contrasts, Sweeney’s composition immerses the listener in a world of chivalric adventure, capturing the spirit of an age where knights shaped the course of history.

Rainforest Rhapsody - Rainforest Rhapsody by Paul Jennings is an evocative and vibrant composition that takes the listener on an auditory journey through the lush and dynamic ecosystem of the rainforest. Drawing inspiration from the sounds and textures of nature, Jennings uses rich harmonies, rhythmic vitality, and contrasting musical colors to represent the diverse flora and fauna of the rainforest. The piece unfolds in a series of thematic episodes, each capturing a different aspect of this vibrant environment—lush, mysterious, and teeming with life. With its wide range of orchestral timbres and expressive use of dynamics, Rainforest Rhapsody immerses the audience in a soundscape that is both captivating and exhilarating, reflecting the beauty and complexity of one of the world’s most extraordinary habitats.

Can You Feel The Love Tonight - "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a heartfelt ballad written by Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice, for Disney’s 1994 animated film The Lion King. The song is featured during a pivotal scene where the characters Simba and Nala, now reunited, share a tender moment of love and reflection in the African savanna. The melody, composed by John, blends a gentle, romantic tone with lush orchestration, while Rice’s lyrics convey the themes of love, connection, and the beauty of the natural world. Originally intended to be an intimate love song, the piece grew into a powerful anthem of unity and harmony. The song became one of The Lion King’s most iconic tracks, winning both an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe, and was praised for its emotional depth and timeless appeal. This arrangement does an excellent job of capturing John and Rice's original song, with the melody being passed around the trumpets, flutes, clarinets, saxes, and even the low brass at times.

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