On Friday, December 9, 2011, Frostburg State University's Brass Ensemble preformed at the Reforming Arts Center on campus.
The stage was simply set with a black piano and a chair and music stand for each musician. Before the performance, family members and fellow students slowly filled the empty auditorium. All around there was chat about how proud parents were of their children who were participating in the show and how their hard work has paid off.
As the lights went down and the reminders to turn off phones and flash photography sounded, the audience fell to a dead silence as they awaited the performers to enter the stage.
The trumpets were first to arrive, followed by the trombones, euphonium and tubas. While they tuned up their instruments, the on seers intently watched and listened to them. Kevin McManus was the director of the musical event and, after greeting the audience, turned to his students and lead them to lead the United States Anthem, "Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key. The Nation's anthem was not the only well known song that was played. "Simple Gifts" was featured twice along with many other recognizable tunes that many do not know by their name.
For every song, McManus described the meaning and purpose behind every song. As the musicians readied themselves, he gently waved his hands to the beat of the music to keep everyone in time. Each song was a melodic, harmonic tune.
McManus said "I believe in vocal music and playing vocal music on instruments... it is a goal of all instrumentalists to sing through our instrument by getting our instrument to sound like our voice or someone else's voice."
After resetting the stage to display every individual performer, the pianist, Dr.Bomi Lim Tunstall came on stage. Then Kevin McManus, the musical conductor, explained how American Music has become "it's own sound." He stated that musicians like William Warfield and Aaron Copeland shaped the face of what American music is today. While talking about Copeland, McManus said "...he made a new sound; an American sound. Our sound." This lead up to the 10 American songs that were played one by one by a solo artist. With every song played, it became very apparent what McManus meant by getting their instrument to sound like a voice; each person and each instrument sounded different just like a voice.
After the show, Sam Morekas, a Sophomore studying Computer Information Studies at Frostburg State University, expressed how much he loved the show. "It way exceeded my expectations! Everyone sounded good and the audience was pretty respectful. I went here to get my credit for a class, but I really did enjoy it."
Morekas isn't the only one who found this show to go past their expectations. Alan Boehm, a Senior studying Political Science at Frostburg State University, found the show to be "really good." He said "... I usually think 'boring' when I hear 'musical ensemble' but this one actually kept my attention, surprisingly."
Needless to say, this concert was highly successful and set a new standard for upcoming musical events.
For a video featuring William Warfield: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSzYRo9j7YM
To learn more about Aaron Copeland: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/aaron-copland/about-the-composer/475/
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