Most of you probably have never heard of the Calgary Wind Symphony (CWS). Originating in 1947, the CWS was just a small-town band who performed at the annual Stampede Parade. Currently they play at many festivals worldwide. The symphony has been conducted by numerous talented music directors and is currently being led by University of Calgary saxophone professor, Dr. Jeremy Brown. This concert was composed by Christaan Venter, who just so happens to have previously conducted my school’s band. I was given the wonderful opportunity to attend the CWS concert–my first, but certainly not my last.
This concert displayed a song called Double Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Cello this colourful piece was commissioned by the Calgary Wind Symphony and it featured the saxophonist Jeremy Brown and cellist Morag Northey as the soloists. The unusual combination of saxophone, cello, and wind symphony allowed for the blending of classical and jazz musical traditions in a modern idiom.
I especially enjoyed the performance of the song “Greensleeves” which as originally written by King Henry 8th. I’ve always wanted to hear the song Greensleeves after doing a research project on King Henry 8th. There is a persistent belief that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for his lover and future queen Anne Boleyn. Boleyn allegedly rejected King Henry’s attempts to seduce her and this rejection may be referred to in the song when the writer’s love “cast me off discourteously”. This song was played to perfection by the band.
Overall this was a very enjoyable concert. However, I feel that there were some parts that could be improved. I would have enjoyed more variety in the music. The music that was selected was not showcasing different instruments in the band. In all of the songs the clarinets and saxophones were only instruments that were showcased. I would like to see a variety so that the clarinets and saxophones aren’t always the melody. I feel like the diversity in the instruments would have made the concert overall more enjoyable. The balance of the band was the main issue that I found. Although the instruments were well blended often the sound of some instruments would get lost. I think if the band was better balanced they would produce a improved sound.
The Calgary Wind Symphony is definitely a must-see Calgary talent group. The ensemble is an excellent example of individually great musicians coming together to form beautiful music that will appeal to all ages. I highly recommend seeing them live, and tickets for their upcoming concerts in the 2014/15 season range from $12-15 per show, with a discounted season package. For general information and future show dates, head over to http://calgarywindsymphony.com/.
