What is a Sarrusophone?

That is the question that was raised at last night's Tri-State Wind Symphony's performance by its director Brian Hughes. A sarrusophone (also spelled sarousaphone) is pictured to the right.

The instrument was invented in 1856 & named after French bandmaster Pierre-Auguste Sarrus. It is a brass keyed wind instrument, played with a double reed. (Thus it is a member of the oboe family.)

Happy now Brian? (He suggested I Google it at work during the discussion of it. Obviously I did using the ProLifeSearch version.)

That aside, the Symphony (TSWS) made its 2nd Thurs nite appearance of the season. There was no threat of rain & since it was before dark, no threat of fishflies. (Grazie al Dio!) The official title of the evening's program was Music: An International Language. But I think that it could have been just as accurately titled Ham & Cheese. This because a certain piece they performed (I should say how it was performed to be more accurate.) definitely served it up.

The performance started out slightly different that usual. Brian Hughes got an intro that was worthy of any of the old time big-band leaders. The associate condector Jay Kahn laid it on THICK. But he didn't say anything that wasn't true, unless you count the description of Russia as imperial.

After the National Anthem they went into Fantasia in G "Freude schöner Götterfunken" by Timothy Mahr. For those of you who haven't figured it out from the title he borrows a little from the final movement of Ludwig von's 9th. From a piece borrowing from a German composer they went to a piece by a German composer Rolf Rudin, Firmament.

Next, Percy Aldridge Grainger took us to the Emerald Isle with an Irish Tune from County Derry. & Mr. Grainger himself fit the international part of the program title. He was born in Australia. His family immigrated to England. He studied in Frankfurt, ended up in the USA, enlisting in the US Army at the start of WW I. This was followed by a stop in Spain with Jaime Texidor's Amparito Roca.

It was back to the USA for the next piece. This was 1 of the pieces that got cut from the performance 2 weeks ago due to the rainy weather. Most people are more familiar with Robert Russell Bennett's work than his name. For about 40 some years nary a major Broadway Musical was produced that he didn't orchestrate. He wrote Symphonic Songs for Band in 1958. They did the 2nd (Spiritual) & 3rd (Celebration) movements. Brian claims that the 1st movement is a little harder to conduct, but promised to attempt it some day.

At this point they took a break for a Few shameless plugs. The 1st was for a new cookbook that is a fundraiser for Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School's band. (Only $12 folks!) It was done by band director Dan Norman. Next up was Jay Kahn plugging the 2007 tour of the Timber City Band of Maquoketa, IA. (Their only appearance is next Thurs, 7:30 pm Eagle Point Park in DBQ.) & last, but not least, & after another into by Jay Kahn Brian got up & made his plug for money. & with a little help from a friend, Caitlyn (Brian's precocious 5 yr old daughter) did her usual task of taking a collection. & may I again join Brian in reminding you that TSWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization & no donation is "TOO LARGE". & he also pointed out how large the TSWS is getting, the sband shell is getting too small to hold them. (Anyone want to donate the extra cement flooring needed?)

As Caitlyn was doing her thing it was back to Australia for An Australian Rhapsody by Ralph Hultgren.

At this point, the ham & cheese was brought out in the form of a triangle solo by Jay Kahn. The piece was Antonin's New World, an arrangement of a part of Dvorak's New World Symphony. The piece was arranged by Dizzy Stratford of the Netherlands. Stratford is actually a pseudonym for the arranger. & having seen it, I have to agree with Brian when he said he can see why he didn't want his real name attached. After the performance I was talking to a friend of mine in the symphony (I'll call him Mr. Brown to protect the innocent [guilty?].) about this piece. He asked me what I thought of the whole bit. I said that I could imagine Dvorak saying, I came to Spillville, IA & worked on this & this is how I'm treated. (Some sources say he did at least some of the work on his New World Symphony while visiting relatives in the area.)

The last piece was a return to the USA, but it wasn't the piece on the program (Viva Musica!) as Brian said they weren't ready for it, but promised it in 2 weeks. Instead they went back 2 weeks & did Sousa's Semper Fidelis again.

Brian was in good form in introducing the various pieces. (Humility prevents me from mentioning the fact that Brian drew attention to my previous post on the TSWS several times during the performance.) As I expected, the entire program was an enjoyable hour & 1/4 in a very beautiful setting, Eagle Point Park.

Growing up, I read about how a lot of communities had Sunday concerts in the park. & I knew of the Italian tradition that was similar, live concerts in the community square/park. But, it seemed to be a part of the past, long gone. Between the TSWS & the Arboretum series I am enjoying a childhood dream come true. It is good to see the concerts in the park coming back because it gives friends & family a chance to do something together. & a lot of people are doing so. It is something old made new again.

The next show will be on 28 June 2007 at 7;30 pm in Eagle Point Park. It will be their annual "Star-Spangled Celebration". There will definitely be 1 Sousa piece on the program. & I think everyone can guess what it will be. Brian didn't promise any fireworks (other than music) for the program. We'll see!