The DHS Jazz Band was featured in an article in Teaching Music, one of the journals of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. I spoke with the author about how we use composition in our program, with the students writing blues heads, modal pieces, and other works for the band to play. When you click on the link above, you can read the article and see some pictures of our students at work.
Every year as we get ready to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, I like to read a speech he gave at the opening of the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival. In his brief remarks, he spoke of the way the spirit of jazz paralleled the spirit of the civil rights movement. He also spoke eloquently about the universality of the blues and the role of jazz in African-American history. You can read the speech here.
Only it turns out that Dr. King never made a speech at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival. Like many stories, its presence on the internet turned misinformation into fact. Further research by Bruce Jackson and David Demsey uncovered the truth: Dr. King was not in Germany at all during the festival, but the promoters had asked him to write introductory comments to be placed in the festival program, which he did. His now legendary "speech" appeared on page 3 of the booklet.
In any event, reading this speech is just one way we can celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and every other person who served our country in the struggle for civil rights. Another way is to listen to John Coltrane playing "Alabama." This was his musical response to the senseless and racist bombing of a Birmingham church in which four young black girls were killed. Coltrane patterned his opening "chant" after the cadence of Dr. King's speech at the girls' funeral.
So while you are home studying for finals, take a moment to remember why we have the day off to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to be thankful for those who struggled then and who struggle today to make our country truly free for all.
This week we've been discussing some of the important Jewish composers of the 19th century as part of our year-long look at Jewish music and musicians. We talked about Meyerbeer and Offenbach, and then we listened to the short 3rd movement of Mahler's 10th Symphony. Today I received an email from a former band parent who shared a link to a full-length PBS broadcast of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Mahler's 7th Symphony. It was recorded live at Symphony Center downtown, with Maestro Pierre Boulez conducting. Unlike your typical YouTube video with questionable sound and fuzzy audio, this is the real deal. Check it out!
Welcome to the new year, MMXI, one which boasts a number of musical anniversaries:
200th Birthday of Franz Liszt, one of classical music's first "rock stars." Besides being a brilliant composer for orchestra, he was a piano virtuoso who could play the most technically challenging pieces of the day. So popular were his electrifying performances that ladies would swoon in the aisles when he played a particularly showy passage.
100th Birthday of Alan Hovhaness, an American composer who was greatly influenced by the music of his Armenian heritage as well as music from India, Japan, and Korea. He wrote 67 symphonies (that's a lot for a 20th century composer) and a piece for orchestra that featured recordings of whale songs.
100th Birthday of Robert Johnson, legendary bluesman who allegedly sold his soul to the devil to become a great guitarist. He wrote a number of standards, including "Sweet Home Chicago."
100th Birthday of Mahalia Jackson, gospel singing legend. She took the bluesy style of Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith and applied it to the gospel songs of Thomas Dorsey to create a deep, soulful blend.
100th Anniversary of the Second Suite in F for Military Band, by Gustav Holst. This year, both SB and WE are studying the music of Holst, and this is the piece the SB is playing. It is one of the cornerstones of band repertoire, and a wonderfully fun and challenging piece that we will be playing on February 3 at our Winter Concert.
This blog is for the students, parents, alumni, and friends of the Deerfield (IL) High School Bands. It includes announcements, assignments, details of class activities, and random thoughts about music. Click on the link above to go to the DHS band website.
