Concert Report

Concert Report The two reports will be due on the dates specified on the syllabus, but you may turn it in any time before then. Name: Discuss: 1. What genre of music do the performers/groups fit into? Give some background  information on the group/performer. The genre of music performed by this group is Jazz. The U.S. Navy Band have been performing the very best of big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for over 50 years. This 8-member group was formed in 1969 and continues the jazz big band  legacy with some of the finest musicians in the world. The Juan Megna, Doctoral Jazz Percussion Recital is a music group set up by 7 members. The genre of music performed by this group is Jazz. At his doctoral Jazz percussion recital, he presented the original works as well as the works of the worldfamous American and Latin American composers. 2. What was the audience like? What was the age range? Dress of the audience? What  social/economical/racial groups were in attendance? Both of two concerts, the audience in general. However, were of all ages, mostly adults. I believe maybe between the ages of 30-50 years old. They were all mostly dressed business causally. Others had on normal clothes such as jeans, shirt, and jacket. Some of the adults had on U.S. Navy gear or hats to show support to the performers. They were of all kind of social, economic, and racial group. A major of them were white and maybe middle to high class, but I saw about every social, economic, and racial group in the audience. 3. Discuss at least two of the songs that were performed in detail? How were the elements of music (melody, harmony, dynamics, tempo, timbre, etc.) used? Did you hear any of the forms we discussed in class? I. Katydid – The elements of this song were more New Orleans Jazz. The harmony and melody worked so well together in this piece. Every time one of the musicians will play a solo, they would stand up, so we know who is the one playing. After they were done with their solo, they would sit back down and the same riff of the song comes back in. the tempo of the song was medium tempo I believe. Nothing too fast or too heavy, even when some of the musicians would do their solo, they wouldn’t speed up the pace or anything. It was definitely all heavily syncopated but as if they were still following a certain piece of the song such as the riffs and melody. It had a real swing kind of groove to it like you wanted to dance to it. II. Love Me or Leave Me – this song performed was from the U.S. Navy Band Commodores. However, instead of just standing up where they were, they would walk to the front as the riff of the piece was playing until they were ready to do their solo. Another difference in this piece was that they had a singer in this song. The singer would sing her part with the music in the background but not overpowering her voice so that we can listen to the lyrics. When the singer is done with her part, the riff would either come in or a solo performer would begin their part. The timbre of the singer was more of a warm color or texture. Nothing too heavy or high or low. It was just right to fit the melody and harmony of the whole piece in general. Not one instrument really overpowered one another. It was medium tempo even when the solo performers played their part. The string instrument was heavily laid back and made great a background musician piece while the singer was singing or a solo was performed. Definitely a swing kind of piece or groove to it because it really would make someone want to dance or swing to the beat or melody of the song. 4. What musical instruments were being used? Were there any that were unusual? I found it really amazing how during a particular piece, they would switch to either a saxophone or flute and added in this new piece to the song but still create the same melody and harmony of the song that worked so perfectly together. 5. Did your expectations for the group and their musical sound align with what you actually saw and heard? Yes it was what I expected from what I saw and heard before. The instruments, how they were all aligned on the stage, how they switch off to other instruments, and how they would begin a solo and end one too. I found it really amazing how during a particular piece, they would switch to either a saxophone or flute and added in this new piece to the song but still create the same melody and harmony of the song that worked so perfectly together. 6. Did you enjoy the concert? Did you not enjoy the concert? Why? I did enjoy the concert. It was a new feel of seeing this type of music live. It was my first Jazz performance I guess I attended and would definitely commend to anyone. They have some really talented solos. One in particular that I enjoyed a lot was a solo with the Pan instrument. Never knew or what that instrument was called. It was played by the Mason Jazz Ensemble on a piece they called Quietude which had the Pan instrument perform a solo and it was amazing.