Dallas Winds - Get your geek on, yo!

I'm listening to the Grainger CD Dallas Winds did with Jerry Junkin.  Robert Reynolds remarked they 'do not play a bland version of any of these pieces. They highlight the dramatic gestures and dramatic colors,: in short, doing "all those things you expect a professional group to do, in addition they play with the enthusiasm of amateurs, and Grainger would have loved that."  Some professional music ensembles play to perfection but their performances are terribly boring.  Perfection with out passion is an unfortunate tragedy. 

That's what I love about Dallas Winds - they play with passion and perfection.  I'll never forget the first concert I attended - it was amazing.  The intensity and energy they played with was radiant and sizzling.  It's as if you could see the smoke coming off their instruments at the conclusion of each piece.  They are a wind band treasure.  

I was thinking about the DWS John Williams concert I saw back in February.  It was spectacular.  One thing that struck me about the concert was the bass drum player.  She played with aplomb and played the instrument with more musicality and more expression than one thought possible for hitting a drum with a stick. It had the perfect hit, the perfect resonance when appropriate and the perfect depth fitting of the mood in the literature they were playing.  When there was a hit, you could feel and hear the hit or the boom and see her holding her bass drum stick/mallet in the air.  It was remarkable.  I could hear it and by the time my brain processed the sounds, she had the mallet held high in the air - like the way the Statue of Liberty holds her torch.  It was really a sight to see and hear.  BOOM and there the mallet was being held in the air for visual impact and cuing.  LOVED IT!!!!  

Not many people give much thought to the bass drum.  When it's played well, it's an amazingly versatile instrument that adds so much depth and impact to a performance.

My college band director was also particular about the bass drum and would often tell stories about Frederick Fennel's specificity when it came to the bass drum and how it should be struck/muffled/dampened, etc.  Such a simple instrument with so much depth and complexity to play well.  Bass drum virtuosity; it's a thing.

Don Williams, who often plays timpani on John Williams film score recordings has been quoted as saying John Williams is very par ! ticular with, in certain situations, how he wants the timpani to be played aggressively to "really hit the thing."  

Next time you listen to one of John Williams more aggressive film scores, pay attention to the timpani line.  It's usually quite entertaining when featured while the orchestra is also playing with fervor.

That's all for tonight.  Geek over and out