ES
Erick Smith
  • Music and Business Information Systems
  • Manchester, CT

Eastern Student Erick Smith of Manchester Performs in Concert Band Fall Concert

2017 Nov 1

The talented musicians of Eastern Connecticut State University's Concert Band recently presented a concert in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC).

Erick Smith '19 of Manchester was one of the performers. Smith played bassoon in the concert and majors in Music and Business Information Systems.

The Eastern Concert Band is a unique blend of musicians comprised of Eastern Connecticut State University students, faculty, alumni, local music educators and talented musicians from the greater eastern Connecticut area. Performance repertoire includes classic band literature as well as challenging works from contemporary composers.

The ensemble presented a collection of pieces by Jack Stamp, Michael Markowski, John Philip Sousa, Eric Whitacre and Pierre La Plante.

The concert opened with Stamp's "Gavorkna Fanfare." This brisk and energetic work is unique in that it features the full wind band, rather than just the more traditional brass and percussion sections. This was the first piece that Stamp wrote for concert band and its success launched him to a new level of fame.

The ensemble also performed Markowski's "The Cave You Fear." "For the next four minutes, let's take a chance, let's venture into the dark unknown, let's fight whatever monsters we find in there," said Markowski regarding the piece. "And although we might not always prevail, at least we'll have a story to tell by the end." Written in 1939, the piece was the opening to the pageant "Music and the People."

The ensemble also performed "Elegy for a Young American" by Presti. Written in 1964, this piece was dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. The many stages of mourning can be felt as the work unfolds, with feelings of shock and denial reflected through the dynamics of the work.

Among the ensemble's unique choice in music was Sousa's "Corcoran Cadets." According to Paul E. Bierley, the foremost historian of the music and life of John Philip Sousa, the Corcoran Cadets drill team was the pet of Washington, D.C., being the most notable of the drill teams, which flourished there after the Civil War. Their average age was sixteen, and they presented a snappy picture with their colorful uniforms, wooden rifles, and youthful enthusiasm.

The ensemble also celebrated the beauty of fall with Whitacre's "October." Whitacre wrote the beautiful piece for the simple reason of expressing his love for the month October. The simple, pastoral melodies and subsequent harmonies capture the soul of the season, reminding the listener of the crisp autumn air and falling leaves. "I'm quite happy with the end result, especially because I feel there just isn't enough lush, beautiful music written for winds," said Whitacre after the premiere of the piece in 2000.

The concert closed with Plante's "American Riversongs." The collection of folk songs captures the history of a developing American nation when waterways were central to commerce and expansion of cities. The piece begins with a bright, spirited version of "Down the River" before transitioning to a more lyrical, andante version of "Shenandoah." The piece closes with "The Glendy Burk," whose draws the piece to a fiery conclusion.