Essays The Maxime Principle: Thoughts on the origin of dynamic markings Tenuto and Fermata: Rebels Against the Tyranny of Notation On the Significance of the Title The Conductor and his
Fennell-EWE-Hindemith Liner NotesFennell-EWE-Hindemith Liner Notes
Frederick Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble Hindemith – Schoenberg – Stravinsky Recorded 24 March 1957 Mercury Living Presence Mono Catalog No.: MG50143 Stereo Catalog No.: SR90143 Paul Hindemith: Symphony in B Flat
On the origins of Symbols for DynamicsOn the origins of Symbols for Dynamics
The Milan Lectures, part 3 David Whitwell On the origins of Symbols for Dynamics Here we discuss the symbols for dynamics used in the notation of music—the lower case p
Where does Music exist?Where does Music exist?
The Milan Lectures, part 2 David Whitwell Where does Music Exist? In the first lecture in this series I mentioned that Aristotle invented a new branch of philosophy called Aesthetics.
What is the purpose of performance?What is the purpose of performance?
The Milan Lectures, part 1 David Whitwell What is the Purpose of Performance? This is a very important decision for which every conductor must make a choice in preparing a
The Early Documentation of Emotion in MusicThe Early Documentation of Emotion in Music
Thoughts on The Early Documentation of Emotion in Music The earliest documentation we have of conductors is the images we see of them in the tomb paintings of ancient Egypt.
A Cheat’s Guide to Score MemorizationA Cheat’s Guide to Score Memorization
Music is a special language for communicating feeling. Your job as the conductor is to work out what the composer felt, not what they wrote. There is no music in
How to teach emotionHow to teach emotion
Music is a special language to communicate feeling. All aspects of music performance—composing, repertoire selection, programming, rehearsal technique, conducting and baton technique, recording—should stem from this fundamental truth. Unfortunately, when
Episode 8Episode 8
The Nancy Affair The History Since the storming of the Bastille, on the 14 July 1789, unrest had been spreading among the regiments of the French Army. Although the officers
Episode 7Episode 7
The Iron Garden In 2017 American composer Jerome Sorsek made two trips to the national parks of southern Utah. He was so fascinated with what he saw there that in
Episode 6Episode 6
A whole world of the deepest thoughts Known simply as the Chaconne, this work is the last movement of Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin (BWV
Episode 5Episode 5
As a first foray into composition in 1987, acclaimed conductor David Whitwell created a two-movement, 11 minute-long symphony for band depicting the "dark side of the Viennese Waltz."
Episode 4Episode 4
On the 14 July 1790, at the Festival of the Federation in Paris, François-Joseph Gossec performed his Te Deum in front of an audience of 400,000 and forever changed the
Episode 3Episode 3
Ponchielli's arrangement of The Carnival of Venice, composed for band in 1868, is a tour de force for the whole ensemble, not just one soloist.
Episode 2Episode 2
In 1845, in an effort to gain a contract to supply instruments to the French military, the bands of Adolphe Sax and Michele Carafa competed against each other in front
Episode 1Episode 1
Did Beethoven compose any music for band? Find out about Beethoven's works for band we've forgotten, and hear the real story behind his work Wellington's Victory.
The aesthetic challenge for the wind band in the futureThe aesthetic challenge for the wind band in the future
The wind band could perform a great public service in bringing aesthetic repertoire to an audience which has little access to it.
On some problems in performanceOn some problems in performance
Considerations for the future of wind bands, part 3 First we must redefine the word “Music.” Music is something which happens live before a listener. A recording of music is
The need to rethink how we teach musicThe need to rethink how we teach music
Music is a special language for communicating feeling or emotions to the listener. We all understand this, but we do not teach this.
The language of musicThe language of music
The great genetic role of the right hemisphere of the brain is what creates meaning in music and is what we mean by "musicality" in performance.
The King Kong of Band Music!The King Kong of Band Music!
Danish composer Andreas Hallager presented a gift to Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia, for his 47th birthday: an almost 900-page score of a programmatic composition for band.
On the teaching of listeningOn the teaching of listening
Audiences are disappearing not because of the repertoire but because they haven't been educated to consider music as something other than background atmosphere.
Wagner for Band: A Repertoire ListWagner for Band: A Repertoire List
The music of Richard Wagner has always been a favourite amongst band conductors. At times Wagner himself recommended some of his music as an appropriate addition to the band repertoire.
The Longy Club: 1900–1917The Longy Club: 1900–1917
The Longy Club was a large chamber wind ensemble made up entirely of members of the Boston Symphony and founded by the principal oboist, Georges Longy.
Holst for Band: A Repertoire ListHolst for Band: A Repertoire List
The music of Gustav Holst has always been a favourite amongst band conductors. Now there are a great more works by Holst available for band, at all levels of difficulty.