Music History Part 3: Band

1. Music History Part 3: Band Impressionism through 1940’s

2. Early 20th Century Band Music • Band music up until this point was mostly military in style (marches) • Development of instruments • Fully valved brass instruments and fully chromatic woodwinds • Gradual introduction of world percussion instruments into the repertoire • Starting in early 20th century, composers started writing for band in a more indoor, artistic way • First serious concert work was First Suite in Ebby Gustav Holst in 1909

3. Better Access to Percussion Equipment • Western Percussion • Timpani (12th/13th century) • Snare Drum (14th century) • Cymbals, modern (17th century) • Some bronze cymbals date back 3000 years but sounded very different • Bass Drum (18th century) • World Percussion (available in late Romantic through present day) • Africa: Marimba, xylophone, djembe, agogo bells, rattles, shakers, rain sticks, many drums • Asia: Xylophone, gongs, bells • Latin America: Congas, bongos, cowbell, claves, timbales, maracas, guiro • New inventions • Vibraphone (1921)

4. Evolving Brass Instruments

5. Early 20th Century Band Music • Famous composers of the era include (to name a few): • John Philip Sousa • Gustav Holst • Percy Grainger • Ralph Vaughan Williams(e.g. English Folk Song Suite, etc.) • Paul Hindemith(e.g. Symphony in B flat, Symphonic Metamorphosis, etc.) • Gordon Jacob(e.g. William Byrd Suite, etc.) • Vincent Persichetti(e.g. Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo, etc.) • Alfred Reed(e.g. Armenian Dances, El Camino Real, etc.) • Darius Milhaud(e.g. Suite Francaise, etc.) • H. Owen Reed(e.g. La Fiesta Mexicana, etc.) • Clifton Williams(e.g. Fanfare and Allegro, Symphonic Dance No. 3, etc.)

6. John Philip Sousa • 1854-1932 • American composer and conductor • Known for American military/patriotic marches • Known as “The March King” • Led the “President’s Own” Marine Band under 5 presidents (1892-1931), including 15,623 concerts

8. John Philip Sousa • “Sousaphone” was invented per Sousa’s request • Wrote 136 marches, including: • The Washington Post • Semper Fidelis • The Stars and Stripes Forever • Manhattan Beach March • The Thunderer • Fairest of the Fair • The Liberty Bell • And many more!

9. Gustav Holst • 1874-1934 • English composer • Influenced by Romantic composers, English folk tunes, and Hindu culture • Famous for unconventional use of time signatures and melodies • Composed almost 200 works, including opera, ballet, choral, orchestral, and band works • Most famous works include • First Suite in E-flat (1909) • Second Suite in F (1911) • The Planets (1914-1916)

10. Percy Grainger • 1882-1961 • Australian composer, arranger, and pianist • Based many compositions on traditionalfolk melodies of various regions • Gathered some of the first-ever recordings onto Edison wax cylinders from native folk singers • Internationally recognized as a brilliant pianist and innovative writer; experimented with “free music” (music without meter) • Most famous works include: • Country Gardens • Lincolnshire Posy • Colonial Song • Irish Tune from a County Derry • Molly on the Shore • Ye Banks and Braes o’BonnieDoon • And many more!