I was invited to a school concert the other day.I have friends who have a son playing trumpet in the school band. This particular concert invovled 4 school bands! Each band played two items and then as a finale, all of the bands joined together to play two pieces. Amid the rather frequent and expected off-note or missed note or young student choking as she drew breath too deeply, I found that I actually enjoyed a number of the pieces. I learned something too.
There were a number of pieces played that had a very short and sharp beat to them - The Grenadiers, Colonel Bogey's March, and Holtz' The Planets: Jupiter. The bands found it easier to play these - the rhythm was simple and uncomplicated. There was no individualistic feeling necessary to play the tunes - it was a simple exercise in unity and remebering the right notes. The results were highly enjoyable. In the finale, all 4 bands united to play the Pirates of the Caribbean theme. WOW! Again the power of unity combined with a simple beat made it an exhilirating performance and experience.
What was fascinating to me was that there seemed to be a pattern. The pieces that required more skillful rhythms and that one might consider the more "sophisticated" and "elegant" tunes were the ones that....well frankly...were quite appalling to the ear. Notes played at the wrong time and over-complicated arrangements both added to a distinct lack of enjoyment for the entertainers and the entertained.
Of course, the majority were there to see their Tommy on the trombone or their Florence on the flute but as I sat and listened I could not help wonder about the power of simplicity and unity.
To young unskilled minds and fingers, the simple tunes and simle rhythms are a necessity to succeed in creating powerful music. Similarly, to young unskilled youth, a simple commitment to a simple tune - in unison with others - can create something very powerful in life. Maybe us older folk, in trying to compose more elaborate lives forget the power and beauty of simplicity and unity.
