Whs Drumline

Over Christmas break, the Wellington high school band performed their winter concert series. There were different bands and ensembles that played throughout the night. The main band was the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mary Oser. The piece they closed with was the Symphony No. 40 by Mozart. Symphony No. 40 is a one of Mozart’s most well known pieces that show a sympathetic tone to relate to musical period in the 1760’s.

Mozart wrote these pieces in 1788, which was a popular time in musical composition. During that time period Mozart also wrote the 39th and 41st symphonies as well. During the time period there is no documentation showing that the piece was ever performed, not even during his life time. There are two known original versions that Mozart composed.

The symphony is scored (in its revised version) for flute, two french horns, two clarinets, two bassoons, two oboes, and a string section containing the first and second violins, double basses, cellos, and violas. Alothough the there were not parts orginally written for trumpets and timpani.

The work is divided into four different movements. The movements are not set up in the normal arangment die classical music. The first movement is a Molto allegro. When the first movement starts, it has a very dark feel. The dark feel comes from the lower strings with some violas. The second movement is in 6/8 time, with the E flat major. The third movement gave a very angry feel. The section is in G major, and the woodwinds and the strings alternate playing. The fourth movement is is written in 8 bar phrases, which constist of a chormatic scale. A chromatic scale is when every single note is played.

The band was set up in a traditional style. The winds such as the flutes and clarinets were near the front. The french horns were in the middle right, with the tubs behind. The trumpets consumed most of the back row, with all the percussion set up in the back. The director, Mary Oser, stood in the fron wearing all black. She was a shorter lady and used a white baton so the band members could see it well.

Studying the band I saw that there was a very good appearance. Not only was the band set up in a good traditional style, their posture was exetremely remarkable. Posture is how each band member sits in their chair and uses the most effiecient way to use their instruments. They were all in sync with eachother when raising and lowering their instruments and nobody talked out of place. The whole band was dressed in black tuxedos for men and black dresses for women.

After