Congratulations on being selected for the 2023 NHMEA South Central District Middle School Honors Band! I just wanted to write a quick note to introduce myself as your conductor for this year's festival. I've been teaching middle school band for the past nineteen years and am currently the Director of Bands at Cape Elizabeth Middle School in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I am truly honored to be your conductor and am really looking forward to working with you in February.
As a band director, I think one of the biggest challenges is selecting exciting, demanding (but appropriate), and inspiring music for our students to play. Not all music is created equal, so it is important that we select carefully. I believe that Danse Carnivale, The Bonsai Tree, and Escape from the Deep will allow us to experience a tremendous variety of musical styles, techniques and challenges. I am really passionate about ALL of the pieces that I have programmed and I hope that you will share my enthusiasm.
I have no doubt that all of you will work extremely hard in preparing your music for the festival. I've linked recordings to all of the pieces below. Please use these recordings to help you in preparation- listen to them as frequently as you can. I’ve also included tempo markings and notes about each piece that will aid your practice at home. It is my hope that we can come together in February and really make music. Again, I am so excited to be your conductor and I look forward to working with such a talented group of young musicians!
Mrs. Ramsey
RECORDINGS- Click the song title to access
Danse Carnivale - Randall Standridge
The Bonsai Tree - Julie Giroux
Escape from the Deep - Brian Balmages
TEMPO MARKINGS AND DETAILS
Danse Canivale
Quarter = Alternating between 128 & 64
The Bonsai Tree
Quarter = 74
Escape from the Deep
mm. 1-18 Quarter = 60
mm. 19-88 Quarter = 150
mm. 89-106 Quarter = 60
mm. 107-end Quarter = 150
*If your school utilizes SmartMusic, Danse Carnivale and Escape from the Deep can be accessed on SmartMusic.
As a band director, I think one of the biggest challenges is selecting exciting, demanding (but appropriate), and inspiring music for our students to play. Not all music is created equal, so it is important that we select carefully. I believe that Danse Carnivale, The Bonsai Tree, and Escape from the Deep will allow us to experience a tremendous variety of musical styles, techniques and challenges. I am really passionate about ALL of the pieces that I have programmed and I hope that you will share my enthusiasm.
I have no doubt that all of you will work extremely hard in preparing your music for the festival. I've linked recordings to all of the pieces below. Please use these recordings to help you in preparation- listen to them as frequently as you can. I’ve also included tempo markings and notes about each piece that will aid your practice at home. It is my hope that we can come together in February and really make music. Again, I am so excited to be your conductor and I look forward to working with such a talented group of young musicians!
Mrs. Ramsey
RECORDINGS- Click the song title to access
Danse Carnivale - Randall Standridge
The Bonsai Tree - Julie Giroux
Escape from the Deep - Brian Balmages
TEMPO MARKINGS AND DETAILS
Danse Canivale
Quarter = Alternating between 128 & 64
- We will be skipping the first ending at m. 64 and jumping right to the second ending (no repeat back to m. 49).
- Light and crisp articulation throughout. Lots of space.
- Flutes, clarinets, alto sax- be prepared to take a few sections down an octave. The writing is very top heavy and the higher voices can easily overpower.
The Bonsai Tree
Quarter = 74
- While this piece is primarily in 4/4, be careful of the spots that switch to 2/4 and 3/4. Mark them in your music! Yes, with a real pencil. :)
- In slower music, it is easy for 16th notes to rush- make sure they feel stately and deliberate in this piece.
- With the dotted quarter/eighth note rhythm, be sure to subdivide the three 8th notes that fit inside the dotted quarter.
Escape from the Deep
mm. 1-18 Quarter = 60
mm. 19-88 Quarter = 150
mm. 89-106 Quarter = 60
mm. 107-end Quarter = 150
- To play this piece well, I think that it is vital to know the background. This is a programmatic piece that chronicles the legendary tale of the World War II submarine The Tang. On its fifth patrol, the Tang and its crew were found under attack. During the attack, the Tang’s own torpedo turned around, hitting and sinking their own sub. Although 78 Americans were lost, somehow nine men escaped the destruction, treading water for over eight hours before being rescued.
- Beginning with dark chords and a military field drum, the music evokes thoughts of honor and integrity. As events unfold, the tempo becomes much faster and dissonant lines emerge. Can you hear the alarm bell and where the torpedo hits? Excerpts from America the Beautiful occur in various forms, first in adrenaline-packed moments, then in a brief moment of solitude and calm. The final burst of energy portrays the daring escape.
*If your school utilizes SmartMusic, Danse Carnivale and Escape from the Deep can be accessed on SmartMusic.