The Concordia University Wisconsin bands are gearing up for their upcoming spring concerts in the Chapel on Friday, April 4th and Saturday, April 5th.
The University Band at Concordia, or “UBand” for short, is an instrumental ensemble that gives students an opportunity to continue to use their musical skills on campus. UBand performs various songs throughout the school year in a concert band setting. Those songs include both sacred and nonreligious pieces. They meet every single week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:45-5:45 PM.
The CUW UBand has been preparing all semester for their upcoming concert this Friday, especially thanks to the help of Band Director Johanna Anderson. Some people might wonder why and how the songs are picked for every CUW concert, and Mrs. Anderson has a great reason why.
“I actually planned the repertoire for the whole year in the summer,” Anderson said. “For the spring concert, I always choose one sacred piece, but I try to choose a wide variety.”
Mrs. Anderson chooses a diverse range of songs so everyone in the band and audience will be entertained and have a good time.
She asks herself, “What is the most variety that I can get so the band enjoys it and that the audience enjoys it too?”
While the range of music that the band plays is something Mrs. A focuses on, the way they prepare is even more important. So how is she helping the students get ready for the upcoming concert? She wants all of them to have no doubt in their ability to play the collection of music pieces.
“The main thing is that I want to make sure that we get to a point where we’re confident with the music and time. I always want the band to play out and be confident and not be worried about making a mistake.”
The group spends a lot of time working on the more complicated sections of the music. However, while rehearsing, they also work on perfecting the little things. This includes fixing different sections of the songs where some specific rhythms need a little work. Another important thing the UBand also works on during the week is rehearsing the songs under tempo so that everything is lined up before they take it up-tempo.
With UBand playing so many great songs for the upcoming concert, it has to be tough for anyone to pick a favorite. So, which of the songs being played does Mrs. Anderson enjoy the most?
When talking about Let Me Be Frank With You, Anderson said, “I just think it’s so different. I just feel like this is not super common of a piece. This is more something that a jazz ensemble might play or a Dixieland sort of band. There’s so many fun things, and I feel like it’s just going to be so cool.”
Let Me Be Frank With You is a joyful and upbeat tune. It will provide a lot of energy for everyone who is in attendance to listen. It is a unique piece that the audience should really enjoy as it is being performed.
When it comes to her favorite song to conduct, she really likes The King of Love My Shepherd Is “because there’s some really big moments and it’s very lyrical.” The lyrical style of conducting is one that she has a lot of fun doing.
The King of Love My Shepherd Is, which is a hymn, is well known for its lyrical nature and beautiful melodies, as Mrs. Anderson mentioned. This song features a lot of expressive playing, which brings out the abilities of the students.
Another song the UBand will play is Juba Dance. This is a song that is very lively, rhythmic, and syncopated. Alto Saxophone player Nicholas Hoffman said, “Juba Dance is the best. It invokes a sense of energetic nostalgia mixed with pure happiness.”
So, if you enjoy music at all or are looking for some entertainment this Friday or Saturday, come down to the Chapel to listen to some fun tunes courtesy of the Concordia University Wisconsin bands.
—Austin Huber is a writer and blog manager for the CUW Beacon. He is a sophomore majoring in Sport and Entertainment Business and minoring in Sports Media.