However, the UWM Wind Ensemble is performing a program next week that is definitely one of the most difficult I've come across. The theme of this program is music that is inspired by jazz, and each piece has it's own challenges. The easiest one is Carter Pann's "Hold This Boy and Listen", which is a slow piece with a lot in it. As a composer, I look at this piece as Pann's attempt to get as many different compositional ideas into one piece as possible. What do I mean by that? Well, the piece has diatonic harmonic progressions as well as progressive ones (even some jazzy chords), it's mostly in a version of simple meter, but has a small blurb of compound meter that gives it a waltz feel, it has dark moments, it has glorious moments, it has huge dynamic contrasts, and lots else. I'm growing to like this piece.
Another piece we're doing is Gunther Schuller's "Blue Dawn Into White Heat", which is the jazziest-sounding piece on the program. This piece is challenging because the second half is quite fast, and some of the quick running lines in the horn parts are difficult to execute. Also on the program in Donald Gramtham's "Bum's Rush", which is my favorite piece on the program. It definitely has a lot of jazz influence, but not all the time. It's my favorite sounding piece, and it the most enjoyable to play. The horn parts are good in this. The last piece the whole band is involved with is John Harbison's "Three City Blocks", which I'm enjoying the challenge of, although it isn't well composed for horns. My part is above the staff half the time, which is high for horns. But, it's good for me to do this piece.
To my surprise, most of the other folks in the Wind Ensemble really hate this program. I hear them complaining a lot about it, and I think that's sad. I think this program is very rewarding in it's challenge, and I'm liking the change-of-pace from the more traditional band music. I'm definitely open-minded to new stuff, and about lots of different kinds of music. I honestly don't care too much for listening to atonal music, but I enjoying playing it. It's usually a good challenge. There is other music I don't like, but it's usually in genres that I probably wouldn't end up playing even if I tried. So, since I'm in the field of Western Music, I'm open to anything that I see on the music stand. I may not enjoy how it sounds (which isn't very often), but I'll enjoy playing it. I'm happy just to be playing anything at all on my horn. Shouldn't that be what performing is all about? I don't care what I'm playing as long as I'm playing. I wouldn't be able to get to far as a performer if I was picky about what I played. I definitely prefer to play music I most enjoy, or parts in larger works that I enjoy most, but I won't complain if I don't. As long as I get to play.