Change is a subject that is avoided by some, yet embraced by others. To Dr. Erika Svanoe, conductor of the Bemidji State University (BSU) Wind Ensemble, change was more than welcome.
For the BSU Wind Ensemble’s concert on Saturday, Nov. 14, change was the theme of the night. The concert was titled Transformations: A Concert of Change. Every one of the five pieces performed were changed or tweaked in some way.
The Wind Ensemble began the transformations with “Country Band March” by Charles Ives. This selection turned the typical march on its head. The bright and exciting piece was dotted with purposely mucked up rhythms.
“It’s very challenging to play something out of time on purpose,” Dr. Svanoe explained. The most appropriate way to describe this piece is perfectly unorganized.
Next, the Wind Ensemble performed “Ave Verum Corpus” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This piece was transcribed for the band, since Mozart wrote primarily for choir and orchestra, which Dr. Svanoe admitted was pretty disappointing. While the previous selection was more upbeat and got the concert rolling, this piece had a more calming and soothing effect.
Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in Eb” is broken up into three movements, “Chaconne,” “Intermezzo,” and “March.” All three of the movements are very swift and adventurous.
Holst’s “Chaconne” went hand in hand with the following piece titled “Suite Dreams” by Steven Bryant. Dr. Svanoe described “Suite Dreams”as “Chaconne” turned upside-down.
“If you drifted to sleep during the first movement of Holst’s piece, this is what your dream might sound like,” she joked. She started the ensemble on a beginning that must be heard for oneself, as it is unique and breathtaking.
Indeed, if one closed their eyes during the movement, a sense of “Chaconne” could be felt throughout the piece. "Suite Dreams" is a challenging piece and Dr. Svanoe was grateful to have a band capable of playing it.
The ending in itself was enough to understand the intricacy of the piece. As the band released their final notes, a hum lingered from somewhere amongst the band, causing the listener to feel as if they justawoke from a pleasant dream.
The transformations and alterations ended for the night with an almost familiar piece, “Fantasia in G” by Timothy Mahr. No, it’s not familiar because it’s from that Disney movie. “Fantasia in G” is based off of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
Sure enough, throughout the entire piece, that all too familiar statement gets passed in between the sections of the band.
The concert concluded in just under an hour. The Wind Ensemble had just returned from taking the concert on tour, where they performed for several high schools. In order for the concert to fit into a class period, it had to be relatively short.
Dr. Svanoe joked that the title of the concert, due to two of the pieces, should have been “Short and Suite.” Regardless of the title, the concert wasnonetheless “suite.”
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