Briarcliff Band Participates In Concert Workshops

From Briarcliff Manor Schools: The Briarcliff High School band was treated to two concert workshops with guest conductor and clinician, Curt Ebersole, in April. “Ebersole led the ensemble in a workshop designed to build awareness of the intricacies of band performance and share his interpretative ideas for two pieces the band is preparing to perform at their spring concert,” said BHS band director Marc Tartell.

The rehearsal began with the piece “In Flight” by Sam Hazo. Ebersole coached the ensemble by helping students become aware of similar parts played by different instruments and which layers of sound were most important in the musical score. He also urged them to listen to great artists play their instruments to better understand the characteristic sound they need to strive for in their own playing.

The second piece the band explored was Anthony O’Toole’s “Longing,” inspired by the writing of British poet Matthew Arnold. After discussing the main idea of the poem and how music reflects the human condition, Ebersole conducted key passages.

During the rehearsal, he paused and asked students, “Why do you think I interpreted the music this way?” At one point, Ebersole asked if they thought it would be a good idea if the closing sounds of the music, wind chimes, started earlier than originally written in the score.

When the band members expressed their agreement that it was a good idea, Ebersole took out his cell phone and asked, “Why don’t we call Mr. O’Toole, the composer, and find out what he thinks?”

Much to everyone’s surprise, O’Toole, who lives in California, answered the call and Ebersole shared the conversation on speakerphone with the band.

“It was a great moment of surprise that reinforced the idea that performing music is an interpretative art that is much more involved than just reading musical symbols on a page of music,” said Tartell.

Images Courtesy of Briarcliff Manor School District