International Youth Wind Orchestra
Saturday, July 11, 2009; WASBE 2009
Repertoire: Gustav Holst First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, op. 28, no. 1 (1909);Second Suite in F for Military Band, op. 28, no. 2 (1911);Percy Grainger Lincolnshire Posy (1937); Paul Hindemith Symphony for Band (1951).
This afternoon’s concert will certainly stand as a memorable event for WASBE attendees. The three most respected living American wind conductors, Frank Battisti, Donald Hunsberger, and H. Robert Reynolds, shared the podium as they led the IYWO through the four greatest works for wind band. Glenn Price, WASBE president, described the genesis of this idea in the program:
For IYWO 2009, we have created something very special. As the decision was made over four years ago to award the WASBE Conference to Cincinnati, thus bringing the event back to the USA for only the third time in the organization’s 28-year history, I determined that we should do something to mark the occasion and create a document of lasting value to our profession—hence the “Three Icons” project.
This project included the expected IYWO rehearsals, clinics and concert, but also incorporated the creation of a permanent artifact: a 3-DVD set which will feature rehearsal footage, interviews with the conductors, and the complete live concert. Look for this DVD in the coming year.
The concert began with Frank Battisti conducting the first Holst suite. This work, generally regarded to be the first piece in the modern concert band tradition, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The wind ensemble sounded superb, with well-performed solos and an excellent awareness of balance and tone. The playing was musical, and Battisti kept the enthusiastic young players focused and appropriately soft, a welcome change to the loud bands we have heard much of the week. Battisti put just one beat of silence between each movement, as Holst originally intended, giving the work great shape and momentum.
Lincolnshire Posy was next, led by H. Robert Reynolds, who conducted without a score. The band played with a rich organ-like tone in this piece, and Reynolds brought out all of the wonderfully quirky elements of Grainger’s orchestration and quick-changing dynamics. Throughout, the band played with vigor and fun, and the many solos in principal parts were performed with maturity and musicality. Crotales were used to replace the handbells at the end of the work, which sparkled nicely. Reynolds played the six movements with minimal pauses between them, sometimes even before the resonance of the last note cleared the hall.
After intermission, Battisti returned to the podium to lead the group through Holst’s second suite. Again the band performed masterfully, with great shape and clarity. Interestingly, Battisti moved the triangle into the wood wind section in the first movement, and had the clarinet soloist stand in the second. The anvil in the third movement was dry and clanky, unlike the brake drums that are increasingly used for the Song of the Blacksmith. All solos in the Dargason were excellent, and the overall impact of the piece was pleasant and refreshing.
Donald Hunsberger led the IYWO through the Hindemith symphony to close the concert. The density of this work stands in great contrast to the Holst suites, and yet, due to the attentive musicians and excellent leadership of their conductor, themes and ideas came across to the audience that are often lost in other performances. Hunsberger kept the piece as light as possible, a difficult feat with this piece, and the overall performance was transparent and sparkling.
These fifty students from eleven countries are all amazingly talented, and responded well to the different styles and demands of each of the iconic conductors. They rehearsed from 9-5 for four days, had a dress rehearsal, then performed this concert on the sixth day. The change in performance displayed as the week progressed was nothing short of amazing. Throughout, Hunsberger, Battisti, and Reynolds each shared invaluable wisdom for both performers and WASBE participants, and I am certain that the DVD set that will come out of this will be a must-see.
Reviewed by Dwayne Corbin
Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music
SimpsonUniversity, Redding, CA, USA.