RReeppoorrtt Douglas Stotter, editor Summer 2001 From the Podium Dear CBDNA Colleagues, In my opinion the “band” culture in the 20th century has been primarily entertainment oriented. This is true from the professional I hope this finds you well and enjoying the change of pace sum- bands of the early century to school bands of today including mer brings. For me, summer means an opportunity to “catch up” marching and concert organizations. What was revolutionary about on stacks of reading materials and the time to look seriously at the the Wind Ensemble as conceived by Fred Fennell was not the size many new scores that arrived during the academic year. During of the ensemble but the awakening to the reality that a band should this period of “rehabilitation” I also review each concert tape from and could consider the quality of the music to be performed be- the previous year and begin to make programming decisions for fore all other aspects of the organization. The number of people the upcoming year. As Dickens said, “these are the best of times on the stage was simply a bi-product of selecting quality music. and the worst of times”. It is often difficult to be brutally honest Instrumentation, names (Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Wind with myself (have you seen the recent commercials on this sub- Symphony), and numbers are perpetual arguments that cloud the ject?) regarding the quality of my own performances. However, real issue: quality of music. The Wind Ensemble movement as this annual ritual has been a real catalyst for growth as I try to begun by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and practiced by many determine what I need to labor over before Labor Day. The job others, is a cultural revolution within the wind band medium. Those does not end there. The intensive task of making programming who are willing to be revolutionaries will perhaps always be the decisions can be exhaustive also! If I examine the repertoire I am minority in the total band conducting profession. However, it is perusing with the same standard that I hope for in my perfor- the revolutionaries in our profession who lead the repertoire to- mances, Dickens famous quote once again rings true. Today’s wind ward its ultimate potential, as has been the case throughout the conductor has more music available to choose from than at any history of music. point in history, a profound change since I joined CBDNA twenty years ago. I find a quandary in having so many titles available As you prepare for next year, be brutally honest with yourself since much of the music appears to me to be “skin deep” and and your students in programming music of the highest quality strikingly similar in its construction and orchestration. This “best within the grasp of your players potential. of times” (amount of music) and “worst of times” (quality versus Who knows, a revolution may occur within your sphere of in- amount) dilemma is an ongoing artistic question all who conduct fluence! bands face on a daily basis. Michael Haithcock There is a historic sifting process that happens with the passing of time. As a result, much of the music from all previous eras of music history goes unheard today. All wind conductors partici- pate in this process each time they select repertoire for any con- cert. As a result, the process and artistic reasons that go into pro- In this Issue: gramming seems to be the friction point for positive change to- ward building on these “best of times”. I used to think the solu- News ............................................................ 2 tion to the “worst of times” was totally in the hands of composers (“build it and they will come”). If we conductors could only con- On-line Publications Survey Results........3 vert the composers who would not write for band, we would be on our way to developing a stronger repertoire. The change in Forum ..........................................................4 attitude toward the wind band medium by composers may be our single greatest accomplishment over the past fifty years. A tre- Recording Review ......................................5 mendous amount of effort by many has gone into this revolution in attitude. I now think the next step for defining our repertoire is Programs, State by State ........................... 6 increasingly placed in the hands of conductors more so than com- Special Feature ......................................... 21 posers (“program it and they will write it”). Business.................................................... 24 2 - NEWS The date of the Southern Division Con- Glenn Price at the University of Calgary The Carolina Conductors Conference ference has been has been changed from announces their wind conducting diploma featured W. Francis McBeth, Professor Feb. 13 - 16 to Feb. 20 - 23, 2001. The program featuring Gunther Schuller, Emeritus at Ouachita University in Arkan- conference will be held at the Clayton Rodney Winther, Baldur Bronnimann, sas, as well as John R. Locke, Festival County Public Schools Performing Arts Allan Bell and Glenn Price on its faculty Host and Director of Bands at UNCG. Center in Atlanta. in the summer of 2001. The comprehen- In July 2001, the UNCG Summer Mu- sive course of study includes conducting sic Camp program, directed by John R. The U.S. Army Bands have created a techniques, score analysis and literature Locke, will attract some 1,730 students website with many resources for music edu- along with a number of related topics of musicians to campus in two one-week ses- cators. “Army Bands Online,” at http:// interest. An international range of conduc- sions. As the largest university-sponsored bands.army.mil, features monthly articles by tors and teachers at all levels of work and music camp in America, the UNCG pro- some of the top instrumentalists in the na- experience are welcomed annually to this gram will include 15 concert bands, 3 or- tion. It also has a worldwide web-schedule intensive 3-week program. chestras, 3 choirs and 120 pianists. to see what free band performances are be- The program runs July 23 - August 10, ing held in a particular area or on a specific 2001. For information contact Glenn Price, The following invitation is from Tim date. There are free music downloads and Dept. of Music, University of Calgary, Salzman, who can be reached at: salzman information about Army careers in music. 2500 University Dr. NW., Cal-gary, @u.washington.edu Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4 The outstanding Australian composer, Last spring the North Central Division Tel: (403) 220-6968 David Stanhope, has agreed to write a work held elections for Regional Vice President Fax (403) 284-0973 for premiere at the combined Western/ and Representative to the National Com- email: [email protected] Northwestern Divisional conference to be missioning Project. Matt George from the held at the University of Nevada-Reno, University of St. Thomas [MN] was Gary Corcoran will tour Germany and March 20-23, 2002. The work will be pre- elected to the position of Vice President. Austria with the Plymouth State College miered by the Western/Northwestern Di- Rodney Winther from the Cincinnati Con- Symphonic Band in March 2002. The itin- vision CBDNA Intercollegiate Band con- servatory of Music becomes the representa- erary will include performances in Munich, ducted by Michael Haithcock. tive to the National Commissioning Project. Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna. As back- I'm hopeful that you will strongly con- ground preparation for the tour, the band sider becoming a part of this commission. A consortium of 20 colleges and univer- presented a concert entitled “On the Road We are seeking $500 contributions from sities have commissioned four composers to Vienna” in April. The concert included: participating schools. Mark Rogers from to write pieces to commemorate Frank Rosamunde, Overture .....Schubert/Takahashi Southern Music Company (Stanhope's new Battisti’s 70th birthday on June 27, 2001. Chaconne, from Partita No. 2 in D minor ...... American distributor) has indicated that All of the composers are or have been af- .........................................Bach/Erickson Southern will provide complimentary filiated with the New England Conservatory. St. Anthony Divertimento.......Haydn/Wilcox score and parts to the contributing schools. Michael Gandolfi will compose a tango Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56a .... There has already been considerable inter- for wind ensemble, 6-8 minutes in length. ...................................... Brahms/Wasson est in participating in this commission from This choice honors Frank’s love of tangos Die Zauberflöte, Overture........Mozart/Posch outside of our divisions with committments and the music of Astor Piazzola. Gandolfi Liebestod .............................. Wagner/Bainum having been received from the University Rondo ..............................von Weber/Snavely is on the Composition Faculty at New En- of Illinois, University of Georgia and Texas Der Rosenkavalier, Waltzes ...Strauss/Cailliet gland Conservatory. Radetsky March, Op. 282 ......... Strauss/Reed Tech University. We are hopeful that the Michael Weinstein will compose a ser- sum of money collected will assist our di- enade with the exact instrumentation of the The University of North Carolina at visions in bringing David Stanhope to Dvorak Serenade, Op. 44. The piece will Greensboro hosted the 12th Annual Caro- Reno for the premiere where we could fur- be 15-20 minutes in length. Weinstein is lina Band Festival and Conductors Con- ther benefit from sessions with him on his on the faculty of the Berklee College of ference February 15-17, 2001. The festi- music, conducting, etc. Music and the Extension Division of New val attracted 190 high school students from Please send your checks to: England Conservatory. North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Robert Spittal Kenneth Amis, tuba player of the Em- Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Mary- Treasurer, Northwest CBDNA pire Brass Quintet will compose a 8-10 land, Florida, Ohio and Alabama, chosen Director of Bands minute overture for orchestral winds.