The Bob Jones University Symphonic Wind Band performed a concert titled “A Children’s Demonstration Concert” twice on Feb. 10 in Stratton Hall. The band demonstrated different wind instruments to its audience by using pieces tailored to those specific instruments.
The identical concerts began at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and the band played the beginning song “Pas Redoublé.” Once the band finished this piece, Director Bruce Cox gave a brief summary of the different instruments in the band, mentioning the three families of instruments present: percussion, woodwind and brass.
An instrument from each family performed a solo piece. The first was by Blair Carrier, who played the flute solo “Concertino.” This was followed by Aaron Frish on the trumpet, playing “Trumpeter’s Lullaby.” Lucas Sparrow gave an impressive performance using percussion instruments for the song “Concertino: Allegro Deciso.” All these solos were supported by the rest of the band.
There was a short break for the musicians to take a breath and retune their instruments. One of the audience’s favorite pieces was a story and music number titled “Tubby the Tuba,” narrated by Brock Miller, a member of the communication faculty, and played by Nathan Townsend on the tuba. Through laughs and applause, Miller told the story of a tuba who had been made fun of for his contribution to the band, but at the end of the story, was lauded for his ingenious song that he played for the band. The Symphonic Wind Band’s accompaniment provided a soundtrack for the story.
This piece was followed by Bethany Charleston’s clarinet solo of “Oblivion” and Emma Madison’s “Pantomime” on the euphonium.
The final piece of the night was “National Emblem,” one of Cox’s favorite marching songs. Once the song had ended, the audience of around 300 people stood to their feet and applauded as the musicians and conductor bowed.
Cox said, “Typically the Wind Band and orchestra concerts would be attended by an older demographic, but we really want young children to come.” He also said that BJU “wants to interest children in getting involved with the instrumental music.”
Hans Rathert, who played percussion in the band, said, “I think they’re [the Division of Music] trying to get children to appreciate finer music, specifically classical, and they’re trying to make it seem fun for the younger kids so that a younger age can develop that kind of taste and appreciation for that kind of music. So hopefully when they grow older they will come to love that kind of music.”
Jonathan Redlinger, who played the euphonium, also emphasized the concert’s goal of reaching young people. “It’s mainly to help encourage the young families in the area to learn about the different instruments.”
