A mix of DeKalb residents and NIU students came to hear the joint performance of the NIU Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony in the NIU Combined Band Concert.
From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., both bands left the audience pleasantly shocked during their concert in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building.
In total, the bands played 10 songs during the concert. The Wind Symphony performed “Sun Dance (1997)” by Frank Ticheli, Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59 by Malcolm Arnold, Forward/Still by Omar Thomas and Wedding Dance by Jacques Press.
The Wind Ensemble performed “Thunder and Blazes” by Julius Fučik, “Circus Polka for a Young Elephant” by Igor Stravinsky, “American Guernica” by Augustus Hailstock, “The Circus Bee” by Henry Fillmore, “A Grand, Grand Overture” by Malcolm Arnold and “Rolling Thunder” by Henry Fillmore.
The Wind Symphony played more traditional songs with some being more lively and others more somber. The majority of the songs the Wind Ensemble played were silly and unique with some evoking the themes of the circus and one of them even using three vacuum cleaners and a power tool as instruments.
While the use of vacuums and power tools for the song “A Grand, Grand Overture” came as a surprise to some audience members, the addition was well received. Most found the circus songs and playful theme in the second half of the show as amusing and welcoming.
A common consensus from the audience of the best song played at the concert was “A Grand, Grand Overture” due to the vacuum cleaners being played during the song.
Dr. Megan Bailey, a visiting assistant professor of trumpet and brass area coordinating, said that her favorite songs were “American Guernica” and “A Grand, Grand Overture.”
“That’s tough because I’m a big fan of marches. As a trumpet player that’s kind of our bread and butter,” Bailey said. “But I did think that American Guernica was really effective and the vacuum cleaner piece was also really fun.”
Becky Butler, a mom from North Carolina, came to the NIU combined concert to support her son who performed in the band.
“My son was in it. I’m visiting him for the week,” Butler said. “My favorite song was the one with the vacuum cleaners.”
Julia Hart, a sophomore music education major, said she attended the concert to perform with the Wind Symphony and stayed for the second half to support the band.
“I was in it for the first half, but then we’re always encouraged to go and support our peers in the School of Music,” Hart said.
If you missed the performance and would like to give it a listen, you can watch it online on the NIU School of Music’s YouTube channel.
