Lawrence E. Anderson

Symphonic Music & Jazz – Compatible?

September 14, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

Symphonic music – called many things including art music, serious music, classical music, and long-hair music, has dominated the world of orchestral symphonic music for hundreds of years.

Can an upstart form of music namely jazz, developed in the early years of the 20th Century, primarily in the United States, be part of and combined with symphonic music successfully? The answer is, a resounding “yes!”

The influence of jazz on serious composition can take a number of forms, including particular dance rhythms, special types of syncopation, new instrumental combinations and special types of instrumental and vocal techniques. A signature characteristic of jazz is, of course, improvisation.

In the last hundred years, a number of forms and styles of jazz has evolved: rag-time, blues, swing, hot jazz, commercial (sweet) jazz, progressive jazz and boogie-woogie, among others. Jazz in symphonic music came of age in the 1920s. Four of the many leading composers who combined classical music and jazz were George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein.

Gershwin, (1898-1937) one of the most talented pianists and composers, was born in Brooklyn, New York. His fame and fortune began to increase with an early published song, Swanee. Al Jolson sang it and it became an instant hit. Gershwin was one of the first composers to utilize the jazz idiom in serious symphonic compositions. It was said that he was the link between Tin Pan Alley and the concert stage. Gershwin’s most notable compositions using elements of jazz are: An American in Paris, Concerto in F, the folk opera, Porgy & Bess and the incomparable, Rhapsody in Blue.

Paul Whiteman (1891-1967) an American band leader in 1924 in New York, presented a program, “An Experiment in Modern Music,” where Rhapsody in Blue, with Gershwin playing the piano solo, had its premiere. A year later the first performance of Concerto in F, again with Gershwin playing the piano part, was first performed.

The Concerto in F was the most successful of the many compositions incorporating jazz techniques in traditional forms. Some of Gershwin’s notable songs are: Summertime, I got Rhythm, and Who Could Ask for Anything More.

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) another New Yorker, was known as the “Dean of 20th Century American Composers.” He was also a strong voice for new American music and influenced many young composers. Copland was given many awards including a Pulitzer Prize. Some of his early works were classified as neo-classicism.

Copland was influenced by Stravinsky and the famous French teacher, Nadia Boulanger. His works incorporating jazz idioms were: Piano Concerto, El Salon Mexico, Billy the Kid, the film score Of Mice and Men, Our Town, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring. Copland’s compositions were both exceptional and innovative.

Igor Stravinsky, (1882-1971) although born in Russia, is also considered a French composer having lived in Paris after 1918, becoming a French citizen in 1934.

Stravinsky lived in the United States after 1939. He studied with the noted composer Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia. Stravinsky showed interest in jazz dance rhythms of American popular music. No composer had a greater impact on modern contemporary art music. Stravinsky was a prolific ballet composer, writing, Firebird, Petroachka and The Rite of Spring. A riot ensued when The Rite of Spring first premiered in Paris, shaking the music world to its foundation because it was so unconventional. It is said that no piece of music had a greater influence on 20th century composers. Stravinsky’s ballet music put him on the musical map. “He turned western musical thinking on its head,” said Marcus Weeks, in his book, Music: A Crash Course.

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and studied at Harvard. He later became conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Bernstein was a distinguished composer, piano soloist, conductor, and orchestrator. He was a major force in promoting American 20th Century music. Bernstein was a genius at synthesizing popular jazz with established symphonic elements.

Some of Bernstein’s most noteworthy compositions are On the Waterfront, Candide and his most popular, West Side Story. He was a master at bringing jazz to the symphony orchestra. For many years Bernstein’s “Young People’s Concerts” were produced on television bringing good music to children in an entertaining and exciting way. William Schumann said, “Bernstein is an authentic American hero, a new breed of hero, an arts hero showing that America does honor her artists.”

Duke Ellington, (1899-1974) formed a big band in 1923 to primarily play jazz that previously was performed by smaller groups. He revolutionized jazz by bringing it to symphonic proportions with his complete scores and improvisational patterns.

One can see that from this small sample of noted composers that indeed jazz can be assimilated into symphonic music quite successfully; making great music even greater for all to enjoy.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

Making More Than Music: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

August 10, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

One of the primary missions of the Danville Community Band, (DCB) is commitment to the youth of our local schools in surrounding communities. A major impact of participation in school music reveals that students that study music do better in other academic courses than students who do not study music in school.

Musical involvement improves a student’s self-discipline, dexterity, coordination, self-esteem, leadership skills, listening skills, creative abilities and personal expression. The DCB does not want the lack of a quality band instrument to prevent a deserving student from gaining these benefits.

Danville Community Band Pays it Forward

In 2005, Carol O’Keefe, alto clarinet player in the DCB, conceived the program “Making More Than Music,” a scholarship program that provides new band instruments to deserving students in the Tri-Valley area.
Over the past nine years, the Danville Community Band has donated new band instruments to deserving middle and high school music students. This unique program was shaped by two motivations, O’Keefe explains. “First, the band wants to make a direct contribution to our local communities as a ‘thank you’ for their great support of the DCB. And second, the bands goal is to encourage talented young musicians to continue their involvement in school band music programs.”

Local school band directors are encouraged to nominate a student who loves music, shows promise, commitment and dedication and who may be challenged financially to afford a quality instrument of their own. O’Keefe, who serves as program coordinator, says, “Our hope is that by providing a new instrument we will encourage students to continue their musical efforts and enhance their appreciation and commitment to ongoing musical studies and performance.” A DCB selection committee determines the lucky winners. The students are presented with their new instruments at the Band’s Annual Spring Concert held in June.

Two candidates received new instruments this year: A tenor saxophone was awarded to Michael Antoun, age 12, who will be going into the 8th grade at Los Cerros Middle School in the fall and a flute was awarded to Ryan Walsh, age 15, who will be in the 10th grade at San Ramon Valley High School this fall.

Former Award Recipient

“I can say quite honestly that I don’t think I’d be where I am today had the Danville Community Band not given me a trombone nine years ago, said San Ramon Valley graduate, Julia Gettle.” She joined the DCB shortly after receiving the award and continued to play with them throughout high school. When Gettle was applying to colleges, Bob Calonico, who had taken over the DCB director’s baton during her senior year, encouraged her to join the Cal Band, if she chose to go to UC Berkeley. She was accepted at Cal and while playing in the Cal Band met a number of friends who eventually got her involved in university politics. Gettle later worked with UC’s lobby in Sacramento for a summer, served on several faculty committees on educational policy, ran the finances of a student political party, and served on the Cal Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.
“Through these activities I also met people who got me interested in Lebanon and its history, and now I’m winding up a gap year in Beirut before starting my PhD at Brown this fall,” Gettle explained. “None of this would have happened had I not joined the Danville Community Band. Not only did it start the chain of introductions that propelled me into university politics, but playing music with people of diverse ages also got me used to engaging with my elders as peers, which definitely came in handy when having to discuss policy with professors and fellow CAA board members.” Gwen Gettle, Julia’s younger sister, now plays trombone in the DCB.

Making it Happen

This program would not be possible without the consistent, generous contributions of Glenn Roberts, president of Best Instrument Music Company. He has been a long-time supporter of local musicians and music activities including music education in the schools and various local community groups. Roberts provides the instruments below cost, allowing the DCB to afford to maintain this program for young musicians in our surrounding communities

The Danville Community Band, with a membership of over 85-volunteer musicians, is the only band in the Bay Area that is providing no charge instruments to local students. Many who received these new band instruments have gone on to excel in high school and college music programs and in several cases, have also become members of the DCB.

The Band often receives communication back from students commenting on how the timely gift of a new instrument provided the confidence and enablement for expanded school and professional development opportunities that would otherwise have not been possible. To that end, the “Pay it Forward” concept of the DCB program is achieving its desired goals. Thanks to everyone in the San Ramon Valley communities for your continued support of the musical and philanthropic goals of the Danville Community Band.

Many thanks to Carol O’Keefe for her significant contributions to this article and her ideas, development and commitment to this program for the youth of the Tri-Valley Area.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville
Community Band.

America’s National Songs

July 6, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

This month we celebrate the birth of our great nation. The Declaration of Independence was signed 238 years ago, July 4, 1776. What better way to celebrate than to sing and play our cherished and endeared national patriotic songs? These songs tell the story of our republic from an historical, cultural, traditional, and sometimes religious, background.

The songs all have a strong vigorous, patriotic content. Some of the lyrics come from poems and some from prose but all espouse heartfelt feelings about our country and what it stands for. There are many different songs in the patriotic repertoire but this writing will be limited to four pieces of historical significance.

The Star-Spangled Banner, our National Anthem, is without a doubt, the most sung and played patriotic piece in America. This song is played and sung at so many occasions, including athletic events, meetings, concerts, graduations, Olympic games and other events too numerous to mention. Every elementary school child usually knows the words to the anthem. It is not however, the easiest song to sing as it has a range of one and a half octaves.
Most people think that Francis Scott Key, (1780-1843) a lawyer and amateur poet, was the composer of the anthem; on the contrary he was the author of the words and not the music. The words came from a poem entitled, Defense of Fort McHenry. The poem was inspired by the War of 1812. Key witnessed the bombardment of the fort by British ships in Chesapeake Bay.

The music was written by British composer John Stafford Smith (1750-1835), some years before, for a men’s social club. Some musicologists say it was from an old English drinking song. The Star-Spangled Banner was not officially adopted as the national anthem until 1931 by a congressional resolution and signed by President Herbert Hoover. The tune was used for years before it officially became our national anthem.

America the Beautiful, one America’s most popular and beloved patriotic songs was composed by Samuel A. Ward (1847-1903), a church organist and choirmaster. The words were by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929), an English professor at Wellesley College. The text was inspired by her trip to Colorado and the sights along the way. The original title of the poem was Pike’s Peak. In 1895 it was published under the title, America.

Written In 1882, the music was originally titled, Materna for the hymn, O Mother Dear, Jerusalem. Ward died before the music was combined with Bates poem in 1904. Bates, however, lived to see the popularity of the song as she died in 1929. Some wanted it to be the national anthem as it was easier to sing.

God Bless America, to many people, surely is America’s second national anthem. Irving Berlin (1888-1989) wrote the first rendition while he was in the United States Army in 1918. His intention was to inspire his fellow man to live in peace and tranquility with one another. Kate Smith (1909 – 1986), a vaudeville singer and known as “The First Lady of Radio,” was largely responsible in making the song an immense national sensation. She sang God Bless America on November 11, 1938, the 20th anniversary of the end of World War I, on an Armistice Day radio broadcast.
Everyone was singing and playing it. Sheet music flew off the shelves. It is sung at major league ballgames in the seventh inning stretch and has been for many years. Berlin established a trust that gave proceeds from the song to the Boy and Girl Scouts. Woody Guthrie did not like it and wrote, This Land is Your Land, in protest. After 9-11 God Bless America took on a new popularity instilling pride and patriotism in the country.

The Stars and Stripes Forever, our national march, is said to be John Philip Sousa’s most well-known work. The Stars and Stripes Forever, is by far the most popular march ever written, and it’s popularity is by no means limited to the United States,” stated Paul Bierley in The Works of John Philip Sousa.

Sousa wrote the details of its creation in his autobiography, Marching Along. “Aboard the steamship, Teutonic, as it steamed out of the harbor on my return from Europe in 1896, came one of the most vivid incidents of my career… suddenly I began to sense the rhythmic beat of a band playing within my brain…,” he wrote. “That imaginary band continued to unfold the same themes, echoing the most distinct melody. When we reached the shore, I set down the measures that my brain-band had been playing for me, and not a note of it has ever changed.” This was the brainchild that produced the most famous march ever written.

America is richly blessed with many wonderful patriotic songs but these are at the top of the lists in filling our hearts and minds with love and devotion to our great nation.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

The Community Band: An American Institution

June 7, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

For decades Americans have been thrilled by bands marching smartly down the street to a stirring Sousa march. A band, more specifically a community band, is an important part of the American fabric of tradition, lore and history.
For over 200 years Americans have enjoyed being entertained by bands in bandstands in the park, parades, supporting athletic teams on the field and in concert halls in towns and cities. George Weissman wrote in his book Oom Pah Pah—The Great American Band, “Band music makes the pulse surge, the heart pound and is music for the ear as well as the eye.”

Origins
The early colonists brought with them many of the musical traditions they enjoyed while playing, singing and listening to music in their European homelands. These were quickly adopted into the genre of American music. Bands in their fledging years in colonial America took on the persona of established military bands in organization and instrumentation—basically brass bands. Woodwinds did not join bands until later.

Military Bands
Our first military band was patterned after these early bands. The United States Marine Band came into existence in 1798. “It was also our first organized band, military or otherwise that has functioned without interruption since this early date in American history,” wrote Frederick Fennell in Time and The Winds. Today this band is, without question, one of the finest bands in the country.
Ironically, bands flourish in wartime. Music for military troops has always been a rallying point for leading armies into battle. Music serves a twofold purpose of striking fear and confusion in the foe and strengthening the morale, courage and bravery of their own soldiers.
Bands from the Revolutionary War and all the wars that followed, contributed music to rally the troops on to victory. These bands ranged from a simple fife and drum to bagpipes and drums for the British regiments and fully instrumented concert bands of modern times.

Community Bands
A community band is an instrumental ensemble made up of woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments. Bands may include a string bass or harp when needed; unlike an orchestra that is primarily made up of string instruments.
When joining a community band, musicians need previous experience playing in bands or orchestras and should, at least, have an intermediate skill level.

American community bands date back almost 200 years to 1828 with the birth of the Allentown Band, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. This band has functioned without a hiatus since its inception—a record that will never be broken as long as the band is in existence.

Today there are over 2,500 community bands in the United States. They are made up of primarily amateur, volunteer musicians. On holidays there is without a doubt, more band concerts played than any other time of year, especially on July 4th.

Pleasanton Community Concert Band
Among the many local bands in the Tri-Valley Area is the Pleasanton Community Concert Band, conducted by Robert Williams. “Community Bands are one of the most effective ways for adults to revisit the joys of making music they had as school musicians in high school and college,” said Williams.
The city fathers of Pleasanton suggested that a community band be formed to commemorate the Bi-Centennial of the founding of our country. The idea was to recreate an old fashioned community band concert in the park in July 4th, 1976. Williams played French horn in the band from its inception as was appointed director in 1978.

Danville Community Band
After my retirement as Director of Bands at University of California, Davis, my wife, Jan, and I decided to form a community band in Danville. Surrounding towns had established bands and we wondered if there were enough musicians in the area to form a new band. We soon grew to not only be the newest band in the Bay Area but also the largest. I was music director and conductor, and Jan took on the roles of business manager and media/public relations. Over 54 musicians showed up for our first rehearsal on September 20th, just nine days after 9-11. The rest is history, as they say. After nine years we decided to take a lesser role in the band and are very pleased that Robert Calonico, director of bands at the University of California, Berkeley stepped up as director. “Community bands are a vibrant example that participation in music can be for life,” Calonico said.

A quote from Oom Pah Pah—the Great American Band sums it up nicely, “…tens of thousands of just plain Americans who, with their clarinets and tubas and big bass drums have for generations played their hearts out in the streets, gazebos, auditoriums and ballparks of the land.”

Unlike many activities one did in their youth, making music with like-minded people can be enjoyed for an entire lifetime. Our goal is to enhance the cultural life of the community by providing the general public with opportunities to enjoy band music and to allow band members to grow musically.

Don’t miss the Danville Community Band’s Annual Spring Concert, Sunday, June 8, 2014, 3 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church, 222 West El Pintado Rd, Danville. Free concert and parking

The Odd Couple: Oboe & Bassoon

May 8, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

Without a doubt, the least known and least understood of all the Western World’s instruments, are the oboe and the bassoon. These instruments of ancient origins are indispensable and are respected components in today’s symphony orchestras and concert bands. Composers and arrangers write parts for the oboe and bassoon in most serious musical compositions.

Oboes and bassoons are members of the oboe family but more specifically, the “double reed” family. They use a double reed made out of cane separated by a very small opening. When the player blows air through the reeds they vibrate against each other, producing a sound or pitch in the instrument. This is in contrast to the single reed of the clarinet and saxophone.

Ancient Origins
The ancestral forerunner of the oboe was an instrument called a Shawm. It was a high pitched double reed instrument from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Introduced from the Near East in Approximately the 12th Century, it was used prolifically until the 17th Century. By the 16th Century a whole family of Shawms –Soprano through bass had been developed and appeared on the musical scene. These instruments served as the progenitors of modern day double reed instruments.

Oboe
In the 1650’s two French oboists, Jean Hotteterre and Michal Philidor, were credited with the modification of the Shawm and the further development of the oboe. The oboe was officially added to the French orchestras in the 1700’s. The characteristic nasal sound of the oboe is due to the double reed and construction of the instrument that has a conical bore in contrast to the cylindrical bore of the clarinet. The oboe is made in three sections: top joint, lower joint and bell. Fine oboes are usually made of grenadella wood. Student model oboes are usually made of plastic or resin to avoid cracking or splitting.
The modern oboe has a range of more than two and a half octaves. “The oboe is capable for the expression of poignant melodies or short expressive phases,” said Gordon Jacob in Orchestral Technique. “It is also capable of considerable agility and can take part in woodwind dialogues in which little phrases are tossed about.”

English Horn
The English horn is not English and not a horn in the usual sense of the word. It is unknown how it got its name. In actuality it is a lower pitched oboe sounding a fifth below the written note, for example, when a C is played it sounds like a F. It is a cousin to the oboe but is somewhat longer and it shares the same key work and fingering system. It has a conical bore and a pear shaped bell that produces a soft, somewhat melancholy sound. The English horn was accepted into orchestras, circa 1830. A modern day type of English horn was created by French maker, Henri Brod, in 1839. He called it an hautbois alto or a low oboe. It is essentially a solo instrument treated as such in many compositions. A prime example is the slow movement of Dvorak’s New World Symphony.

Bassoon
This instrument is the bass of the double reed family. Its main function is to provide the lower notes of the woodwind group. The dynamic range (volume) is wide. The written lower notes are in the bass clef and higher notes are in the tenor clef. Vivaldi wrote many concertos for bassoon. Mozart and Weber also wrote a concerto for bassoon. Jacob reminds us, “The instrument, once called the clown of the orchestra is worthy of better labels.”

Double or Contra Bassoon
The contra bassoon is the very lowest sounding instrument of the double reed family. It sounds an octave below the bassoon. An older form of the contra bassoon was used by Handel in 1727. Later it was used by Haydn in The Creation and Beethoven in the Fifth and Ninth Symphonies.
A more modern version was developed by Heckel, circa 1880. Composers generally write parts that avoid extreme high or low notes because of poor tone quality on the instrument. Some notes on the contra bassoon are more “growly” and not pleasant to hear thus they are less frequently used.

A good contra bassoon can be almost prohibitive in cost. It is not uncommon to pay $50,000 and up. Consequently, you rarely see one in orchestras and bands that are not of professional status.
Even though the oboe and bassoon are considered the “odd couple” due to their different sounds, they are an important component to make the ensemble complete. These are not easy instruments to learn or play. The musician needs to have patience and self-discipline to master these instruments but they will always be in demand in orchestras and bands.

Mark your calendar for the Danville Community Band’s Annual Free Spring Concert, Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 3 p.m., Community Presbyterian Church in Danville. For information call 925-372-8420.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville
Community Band.

Up Tight? Loosen up with Music as Tax Time is Upon Us!

April 2, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

Today we encounter stress and anxiety everywhere we go. The vicissitudes of modern life almost predict that disruption of one’s peaceful and calm existence will sometimes be interrupted, many times unexpectedly. What can we do about it? Through many research studies, science has proven that listening to or producing calming music can have a positive and lasting impact on relieving stress. How is this accomplished?

It is now well established music releases endorphins (natural opiates that relax us) into the body thereby lessening the stress and anxiety causing our discomfort. In a research study by Marie Helsing at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, she used two groups, one listened to music everyday and the second group spent time relaxing each day without music. The results showed a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone, and better overall health in the group that listened to music.

The type of music did not seem to matter as much as whether or not the participants liked the music. The more the participants liked the music, the better the results. Music evokes positive emotions in listeners and therefore is thought to be beneficial for wellbeing and health, reported Helsing.

Current thinking based on scientific research says that making music is just as effective as listening to music. Singing, for example, is a very effective way of easing tension and anxiety. The old bromide of singing in the shower turns out to be beneficial to ones well-being and not just singing to hear your self sing. Singing is a great release of tension.

The soothing power of music is well established. It has a relaxing effect on minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music. Music decreases the levels of stress hormones. Calming music before bedtime promotes peace and relaxation and helps induce sleep. As we know, productivity increases when stress is reduced. Music can also relieve depression and increase self-esteem.

Music can be a great aid to meditation, helping to prevent the mind from wandering. Certain music is appropriate for meditation as it can help the mind slow down and initiate the relaxation response. Loud, raucous music can be irritating or unsettling. Gentle music with a familiar melody is more comforting.

Listening to music can lower a stressed patients’ heart rate, reduce the need for anesthesia in surgery, enhance restful sleep, lower blood pressure and boost immune response, to name a few. Relaxation music often uses the sounds of nature on compact discs (CD). Water sounds are soothing and birdsongs are often used as an aid to help release stress.

There is a genre of music specifically designed to relieve anxiety and stress naturally without drugs and pills. It is called healing music and listening to it eases the stress response. Healing music can help people achieve a calmer, more peaceful state of mind. It produces physical changes in the body by alternating brainwave patterns and lowering blood pressure.

There are a few CDs highly recommended for healing music. Music for Brainwave Massage, by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, moves one to a meditative state.

Wind and Mountain, by Deuter, is good for encouraging creativity. Drone Zone, by Kay Gardner, has short songs for relaxation based on a root tone or “drone” that produces a specific vibration within the body. Harmonic Response, by Jim Oliver, produces harmonic tones to which the body responds. Music for Healing, by Steven Halpern, who is a pioneer in the science of sound healing.

Janelle Barlow, Ph.D. of the Stress Reduction Institute says, “Reduction of stress may not only be modern man’s answer to survival but also the key to his expanding potential.”

When you close your eyes and listen to calming music on a daily basis you will be more centered and less venerable to outside pressure. This April, while doing your taxes, play calming music and maybe it will become a less stressful chore.

Mark your calendars for The Danville Community Band’s Annual Blackhawk Museum Concert “A Gallery of Sound” Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Free concert with museum entrance fee.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville

Community Band.

Music for Children

March 1, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

Most parents know that children learn their ABC’s faster by singing rather than saying the letters. The added tune makes learning the ABC’s easier to learn and remember. Students who sing or play an instrument score up to 51 points higher on SATs than the national average. Children who grow up exposed to music have a great advantage in many ways over those who seldom hear music.

Music is good for you – physically, emotionally and spiritually. Music affects your mood, makes you feel happy, enchanted, inspired, wistful, excited, empowered, comforted and even heroic.

Many generations of parents probably balk at what their children are listening to and identify with, in terms of contemporary music they hear on radio, television, compact discs and live concerts.

As a teenager in the 1950’s I’m sure my own parents were not happy with the advent of rock n’ roll as exemplified by Bill Haley and Elvis Presley, among others. Fast forward to today – acid rock, heavy metal rock, etc. permeate the airways with ear-splitting decibel levels. Because of this hearing abuse, many physicians predict a generation of hard-of-hearing adults will emerge. Hearing organ damage is inevitable if children keep listening at the current levels. The musical value of today’s pop and rock music comes into serious question as to its inherent worth in ones aesthetic judgments concerning its benefits, merit and lasting values to society. Parents are cautioned to watch out for obscene or disturbing lyrics, according to a news article from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Classical Music

In a study by Sarah Harris at the Institute of Education, University of London, Harris found that exposing children to classical music boosts their concentration and self discipline. It also improves their social and general listening skills and develops sharper minds that are less likely to suffer a mental decline.

These three very famous compositions are highly recommended for children.

Young Peoples Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten, England’s best known modern composer, introduces children to the instrument families: woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. He first writes for the instrument families then for each one individually. This work is a delightful and fun piece designed for people unfamiliar with the orchestral instruments. Children will learn a lot from this work

Peter and the Wolf by Russian composer, Sergei Prokifiev, is a “symphonic tale for children,” according to Curt Sachs in his book, Our Musical Heritage. This musical story is told by a narrator. The woodwinds are associated with four characters in the story: the flute, personifies the bird; the oboe, the duck; the clarinet, the cat and the bassoon, the grandfather. The French horns describe the wolf and the strings portray Peter. The hunters are represented by rifle shots simulated on drums.

Carnival of the Animals, considered must listening for children was composed by French composer, Camille Saint-Saens. This work is in 14 sections. The inspiration for the piece might have been prompted by his students who asked him to write a musical joke for them. He regarded the writing of the work as a “piece of fun.” Ironically he did not allow the piece to be published or performed during his lifetime. The reason for this was he did not want this “fun piece” to distract from his work as a serious composer of substantive music. He wanted the work to be published posthumously however. People enjoyed it so much that it has become one of Saint-Saens most famous compositions. The instruments of the orchestra reproduce the sounds made by the various animals. The suite is scored for small orchestra and two pianos. This piece is “A tour through the animal kingdom in short bits,” states Ethan Mordden in his book, A Guide to Orchestral Music.

These are all very prominent and enjoyable works that can teach children a lot about music. Other musical selections children enjoy are: The William Tell Overture by G. Rossini (familiar as one of the themes of the radio and television show, The Lone Ranger) Children’s Corner Suite by C. Debussy; The Nutcracker by P. Tchaikovsky; Simple Symphony by B. Britten; Pier Gynt Suite by E. Grieg and Orpheus in the Underworld by J. Offenbach

Cartoons and Films

In 1940 the landmark Disney feature Fantasia dealt with classical music in an animated form for children. This movie exposed the audience, children and adults, to great works of popular classical music including The Nutcracker, The Rite of Spring, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria. The goal was to expose children to great music. Cartoons, during their early days and today, often play classical music as background for the action on the screen. Popular animated children films today expose the audience to excellent musical sound tracks.

Many dramatic feature and action films use classical music to help express the emotions the actors are feeling and expressing. Music in films helps make the story and the acting on the screen much more effective.

Why not expose your children to music of lasting value that they will learn to embrace and will lead to a new appreciation of music of worth? By introducing your children to music written for them you will be doing them an enormous service that will lead to a lifetime of musical enjoyment and personal fulfillment.

Make classical music a natural part of your children’s daily life but never force classical music on them and be careful not to ban other forms of music.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

Music of Love

January 31, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

“If music be the food of love, play on.” …Shakespeare

Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere. If you’re planning an intimate, just for two, Valentine’s celebration, there is nothing more romantic than having the right music playing in the background.

A candle-light dinner, a bottle of wine or champagne and flowers and candy for your sweetheart all set the stage for a romantic evening. But, it’s romantic music that sets the mood to make the evening complete.

Romantic proclamations of love in the form of timeless love songs and ballads permeate the atmosphere surrounding Valentine’s Day. Music has the power to inspire so many feelings and emotions, especially feelings for a special person in your life. Songs can often say what is in your heart and say it with words that may not be your own but help express what you really mean.

Popular love songs: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, How Sweet it is to be Loved by You, and I’m in the Mood for Love, are tunes that have endured for years. Many romantic tunes come and go but Unchained Melody, You Belong to Me, And I Love Her, by the Beatles, and Can’t help Falling in Love, by Elvis, will be staples for generations to come. Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere.

The majority of romantic love songs come from the popular form of music. A myriad of composers have written love songs too many to mention. Surprisingly, Jackie Gleason (1916 – 1987) who was primarily an accomplish actor, comedian and showman, was a musician and producer of mood music. Jackie Gleason’s first and most famous album was, Music for Lovers Only. This album became so popular that it held the record for longest run on the top ten billboard charts for an astounding 153 weeks.

Earl Klugh, born in 1953, is another musical ambassador of romance. He is a master of acoustic guitar and an American composer of smooth/fusion jazz. One of his most famous albums is Music for Lovers, romantic beyond belief. The music was described as music for quiet days and quiet nights and gentle moments. “An astonishing collection of classics from the absolute master of mood music,” said writer, S. Howard, “This music is so romantic it will make you fall in love again and again.” Klug’s album includes: Wishful thinking, Living Inside Your Love, and Long Ago and Far Away. Music changes and evolves with each generation but there is one topic that has proven to be constant: Romantic love songs.

Love is a universally understood feeling and experience. While there have been countless crooners over the years to explore the ups and downs of love, there have been a select few who stand out from the rest. Romantic songs by Frank Sinatra, who first became noticed in the Big Band era, are still popular today. Nothing says classic romance—or seduction—like a rendition of, Embraceable You, All of Me, My Funny Valentine or The Way You Look Tonight.

Other great romantic singers whose hit songs are timeless include Tony Martin, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett and, of course, Elvis, to name just a few.

Music of romance is not confined to the popular genre. There are numerous examples of romantic music in the serious or classical period form of music. Opera has many arias that speak of all things romantic. O mio babbino caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi; Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot; Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore from Puccini’s Tosca; O giusto cielo! – Il dolce suono from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Quando m’en vo from Puccini’s La Boheme.

Romantic music and love songs can lift the hearts and spirits of lovers throughout the world, and not just on Valentine’s Day. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day and here’s a good way to celebrate this year. Bring your sweetheart to hear romantic music performed by the Danville Community Band at their Annual Dinner Concert, Sunday, February 9, 2014. Call the Diablo Country Club for reservations 925-837-7040. Open to the public.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

Community Music Groups: Join Up and Enjoy in 2014

January 2, 2014 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

For many of us the New Year presents another opportunity to pursue new ideas, expand and improve on previous endeavors and set new goals in both personal and professional interests.

Some people make New Years resolution stating lofty and ambitious goals that they, in all good faith, want to achieve. Unfortunately, very few follow through with these idealistic dreams. Why not make a resolution that is easier to keep and has many redeeming values and life improving benefits? Join a community music group – namely a band, orchestra or choral group.

Usually, you do not have to be an experienced musician. Many community music groups do not require previous experience but some do require experience, at least at the intermediate level. It’s easy to find out what level of experience is required – just ask the group representative.

Research studies have proven that participation in a music ensemble greatly enhances one’s life. A few of the many benefits of playing or singing in a community group include self satisfaction, enhanced self worth and the pure enjoyment of making music with others. Lifelong friendships are a common element in being with others who share the same goals of making music together for self improvement, camaraderie and fun.

Bay area residents are very fortunate as there is a plethora of community music groups in the Tri-Valley. One can find a group usually in most communities. Enter “community music groups” on the internet and you will be surprised to find how many groups there are in your area.

There are groups for almost any musical interest you can name including: concert bands; jazz bands; rock bands; swing bands; orchestras, including small chamber groups and full symphony orchestras. Many churches have choirs open to members and nonmembers. There are community choruses of various sizes that present a variety of repertoire from classical to jazz and popular music. Below are just a few of these local groups.

Community Bands:

Danville Community Band, www.danvilleband.org, Director, Robert Calonico
Pleasanton Community Concert Band, www.pleasantonband.org, Director, Robert Williams
Walnut Creek Concert Band, www.walnutcreek.org, Director, Harvey Benstein
Contra Costa Wind Symphony, www.ccwindsymphony.org, Director, Dr. Duane Carroll
San Ramon Symphonic Band, www.sanramonperformingarts.com, Director, Larry Colon
East Bay Symphonic Band, www.eastbaysymphonicband.org, Director, Beverly Johnson
Tracy Community Band, Face book, Director, Scott Lycan

Orchestras:

Livermore-Amador Symphony Orchestra, www.livamsymph.org, Director, Arthur Barnes
Diablo Symphony Orchestra, www.diablosymphony.org, Director, Matilda Hofman Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, www.cccorch.org, Director, Timothy Smith
Castro Valley Chamber Orchestra, www.cvorchestra.org. Director, Todd Wetherwax

Choral Groups

Blackhawk Chorus, www.blackhawkchorus.com, Director, Diane Gilfether
Valley Concert Chorale, www.valleyconcertchorale.org, Director, John Emory Bush
Voices of Musica Sacra, www.vmschorus.org, Director, Mark Tuning
Pride of the Pacific Chorus, wwwsingharmony.org,
Women Sing, www.womensing.org, Director, Martin Benvenuto
Rossmoor Choral Society, www.rossmoornews.net, Director, Frank Ryken

Playing music or singing with a group of friends is not only fun, creative and a rewarding way to spend time but more and more studies are showing the various health, social and general well being benefits of having music in your life.

“I had a good time playing again this year with the Danville Community Band at their Christmas Concert!” said, Norm Dea, director of instrumental music at Acalanes High School. “Huge Band with wonderful people enjoying each other and enjoying music making. Music education at its best and it does extend past high school and college!”

Making music can be a lifelong endeavor and it’s never too late to get started. Why not make 2014 a more fulfilling year by becoming part of a music group in your area? You’ll be glad you did. Have a very Happy New Year!

Don’t miss the Danville Community Band’s Annual Dinner Concert at the Diablo Country Club on Sunday, February 9, 2014. Contact the Diablo Country Club at 925-837-7040 for reservations. Seating is limited.

The Danville Community Band was founded by Dr. Lawrence Anderson and his wife, Jan in 2001 and quickly became the largest community band in the Bay Area. The band is currently directed by Professor, Robert Calonico, director of bands, at the University of California, Berkeley. The band currently has openings for percussion players.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

Christmas Music Origins

December 5, 2013 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

The Holiday Season is upon us and many are immersed in the good feelings of family get-togethers, gift giving, stuffing ourselves with enormous amounts of food and a myriad of other activities of this festive season. One of the most recognizable and all encompassing manifestations of the season is the preponderance of holiday music. We hear it everywhere – radio, television, department stores, carolers, holiday concerts, in churches and in the homes of our families and friends.

Where did most of our familiar Christmas music come from? The early Christmas music, of the first European Americans, originally came from Western Europe. The pilgrims brought much of their European heritage with them to the new world. Among their musical traditions was music that was sung and played at Christmas time. However, in England in 1645, Puritans, led by Oliver Cromwell actually banned Christmas as they thought the celebration of Christmas was decadent. This practice was repealed during the rein of Charles II and the English people could again celebrate Christmas.

The Anglican Church instituted carol singing on Christmas Eve in1880. In Boston, from 1659 to 1681, celebrating Christmas was declared illegal. The fine for celebrating could cost as much as five shillings. Can you imagine?

Musicologists have traced the antecedents of the song, Holly and the Ivy, still sung today, back to the middle ages. Leaders of the Protestant Reformation – Martin Luther (1483-1546) of Germany and Charles Wesley (1707-1788) of England, were both influential in advocating the use of Christmas carols in church worship services.

After the American Revolution the restrictive customs of England began losing popularity, especially celebrating Christmas. Interestingly, the American Congress met on Christmas day in 1789, the first Christmas after the constitution was signed. It was almost a century later, in 1870, when Christmas was made a federal holiday in the United States.

The early Christmas music had a decidedly religious theme inherit in the words and music. It, of course, had its roots in sacred music of the church.

According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, “A carol is a popular hymn of a joyous nature in celebration of an occasion such as Easter or Christmas. The earliest English carols date from the 15^th century. The carol is characterized by simplicity of thought and expression. Many Christmas hymns composed in the 19^th century have been called carols.”

As time went on, music that was related to Christmas themes became more secular in nature. Some milestones in the evolution of Christmas music and the singing of carols are: O Come All Ye Faithful, (Adeste Fidelis) written in the mid-1700’s, originally in Latin, was later translated into the vernacular. Angels from the Realms of Glory, written in 1816, is one of the most famous carols with words by James Montgomery and music by Henry Smart. Away in a Manger with music by William Kirkpatrick, was written in 1885. Clement Moore wrote the famous poem, The Night Before Christmas in 1822. This text has been set to music many times.

“Rudolph the Ninth Reindeer,” A poem by Robert L. May in 1939, became the seed for the song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” written in 1949 by Johnny Marks. Gene Autry made it a best seller Christmas song, second only to White Christmas, made popular by singer, Bing Crosby.

In addition to the previously mentioned carols, some of the more popular include: Angels We Have Heard on High; Away In A Manger; Deck The Halls; Ding Dong, Merrily On High; The First Noel; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Good King Wenceslas; Hark the herald Angels Sing; Joy To The World; Silent Night; O Holy Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem. Popular American Christmas songs include: Jingle Bells, Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Up On the House Top.

When we trace the history of many of our favorite carols, we may be surprised to find how many of them are of European origin. We can thank our English and German cousins across the “pond” for a large number of these carols. Our musical heritage at holiday time is rich and varied. This season take some time to listen, participate and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the season in the rich heritage of Christmas music in America.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.